ETAMU Percussion Ensemble Wins Prestigious International Competition
The win is the fourth in history for a Lion percussion ensemble.
The East Texas A&M University Percussion Ensemble stands on top of their discipline as one of three university winners of the Percussive Arts Society’s International Percussion Ensemble Competition (IPEC), announced June 18.
The IPEC is one of the most prestigious percussion competitions, with entrants from across the globe in separate categories for middle schools, high schools and universities competing. Entrants submit audio recordings of live performances from the previous year, and a panel of five judges rank the applicants. The top three entrants from the university and high school categories, and the top middle school, are deemed IPEC winners.
In the university division, East Texas A&M was named a winner, along with Furman University and Colorado State University. This is ETAMU’s fourth IPEC victory, having also won in 2000, 2010 and 2023. Winners are barred from entering the IPEC for the next two years, so the Lion Percussion Ensemble is effectively a “back-to-back” IPEC winner.
Additionally, 2011 Lion Music graduate Connor Pickle directed Royse City High School’s percussion ensemble to victory in the high school division.
Winners of the IPEC then travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to perform at the Percussive Arts Society’s annual international convention in a showcase concert. This year’s convention is scheduled for Nov. 11-14, 2026.
The following students participated in ETAMU's Percussion Ensemble I this past year, with selected pieces being submitted for the competition.
- Jace Harris
- Michael Memmott
- Marshall Oman
- Mason Rumsey
- Rose Brown
- Ty Bennett
- Hien Doan
- Beau Bavousett
- Stefany Funk
- Brady Garrison
- Brian Gonzalez
- Aiden De Hon
- Matthew Melgar
- Jeffrey Porter
- James Powers
- Gary Hammond
- Kase Cothren
- Joshua Yeoh
Dr. Brian Zator, Regents Professor of music and director of percussion studies at East Texas A&M, had high praise for the students’ performances.
“To say I’m proud of this amazing group of students for being PAS 2026 IPEC winners is an understatement,” Zator said. “ETAMU percussion students are resilient, hard-working and talented, and have bought into our incredible culture and system. THEY made this happen, and I can’t wait for the fall semester and our PASIC Showcase Concert in November.”
Learn more about the School of Music at East Texas A&M.