WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY
PERCUSSION
West Chester University percussion majors benefit from a well-rounded percussive education which is focused on career preparation. WCU percussion majors perform in a variety of ensembles, including Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Marching Band, Latin Jazz Ensemble, two big bands, and numerous jazz combos. All ensembles perform regularly on campus and some ensembles travel for domestic and international performances. WCU percussion majors pursue degrees in music performance, music education, music composition, and music elective studies in an outside field.
Our percussion students have been selected to compete and perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and our students have won the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” National Collegiate Solo Competition, the Newark (DE) Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Concerto Competition, and several West Chester University concerto and scholarship competitions. WCU percussion graduates have been admitted to prestigious graduate music programs, and our graduates have earned positions with orchestras, military bands, and touring commercial music groups. WCU percussion graduates have earned public school and private school music teaching positions throughout the United States, and several of our percussion graduates serve as college professors and DCI/DCA drum corps instructors.
MEET THE FACULTY
Brent Behrenshausen
Percussion
Ralph Sorrentino
Percussion
Christopher Hanning
Percussion, Dean
Darren Hazlet
Marching Percussion
Marc Jacoby
Jazz Vibes
David Nelson
Percussion
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES
WCU HIGH SCHOOL HONORS PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
The WCU High School Honors Percussion Ensemble (HSHPE) is a select ensemble comprised of some of the Greater Philadelphia region's finest high school percussionists. Auditions will be held November 17th, and rehearsals take place on Sundays (2pm-3:30pm) from January 5th through April 19th. The HSHPE performs on the WCU Percussion Ensemble's spring concert on April 21st, and additional performance opportunities (e.g., the Percussive Arts Society Pennsylvania Day of Percussion) will be considered. Dr. Ralph Sorrentino serves as the HSHPE’s artistic director, and Professor Brent Behrenshausen conducts the ensemble.
Application (must be postmarked by November 11th)
Further Information:
Ralph Sorrentino
(610) 436-2831
WCU ENSEMBLES
