Percussion Ensembles
The UWM Percussion Area ensembles offer varied experiences for percussion students as well as other music majors and minors, non-music majors and community members. These courses have diverse curriculums that combine to address a range of instruments, techniques, and music genres. The ensembles provide unique opportunities for students to develop into versatile performers. See the individual ensemble descriptions below for more information.
Please fill out the ensemble interest form below to join any of our music ensembles, or if you have any questions.
Steel PANthers
Auditions & Membership
Membership and enrollment permission is granted after an orientation/audition assessment of a student’s ability. No previous steel band experience is necessary; however, the ability to read music and a good sense of time are recommended.
Percussion Ensemble
The UWM Percussion Ensemble is a chamber ensemble that focuses on diverse repertoire written in the 20th and 21st centuries for percussion. Emphasizing new compositions alongside historically significant contributions to the chamber repertoire, the Percussion Ensemble features the study and performance of a variety of instruments, techniques, and music styles.
Auditions & Membership
Open to any student with percussion experience regardless of major. Interested students must complete a brief interview and informal audition.
University Community World Music Ensemble
The University Community World Music Ensemble explores the musical techniques and performance styles of folk and popular genres from different corners of the globe. Regular offerings include Trinidadian steel pan (Steel PANthers) and Guatemalan marimba (Marimba Pantera), with other offerings available on a rotating basis depending on instructor availability.
Auditions & Membership
Open to UWM students and community members of all skill levels ages 12 and up. There is no audition and no prior experience necessary to join.
You must be registered prior to the beginning of the session. No walk-ins are allowed. Participation is based on a first come-first served basis with an opportunity to be placed on a waiting list. First-year and transfer students should register with their advisor during New Student Orientation. Returning students should use their PAWS account.
Students seeking college credit should register by enrolling in one of the following: MUS 464 (undergrad students), MUS 464G (graduate students). Music majors cannot take this in place of their assigned ensemble.
Students not seeking credit and community members should register through the School of Continuing Education.
Marimba Band
The UWM Marimba Band combines xylophone, marimbas, and a collection of small percussion instruments to provide fun and easy-listening music to audiences of all ages. The repertoire includes a wide array of music, including early xylophone ragtime pieces, foxtrots, novelty to classical transcriptions, and traditional folk tunes from different cultures. Many of the pieces are taken from the “Golden Age” of the xylophone, 1915 to 1935, when virtuoso performers and composers were part of the popular music scene with radio shows, recordings, and sheet music sales. This ensemble is an extra-curricular performing and touring ensemble made up of percussion music majors.
Auditions & Membership
Marimba Band is open only to percussionists seeking a music major or minor.
Music Programs
Music studios are connected to a variety of academic programs, including majors, minors, certificates and graduate programs. This is a full list of programs offered by the Department of Music.
Faculty
Which faculty you have within this program is dependent upon your chosen courses or interests. For a list of all Music faculty and staff please follow the link below.
- Lecturer, Musicology & Ethnomusicology
- Faculty Member, Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies
- Co-Director, University Community World Music Ensemble
- forbesjw@uwm.edu
- 414-251-7687
- Music Building 109
- Assistant Professor, Percussion
- Area Head, Percussion
- Director, Percussion Ensemble & Steel PANthers Steel Band
- Co-Director, University Community World Music Ensemble
- wier@uwm.edu
- 414-251-7036
- Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts 394
Entrance Audition
For Music BA, BFA and Masters programs in Spring and Fall 2024.
• December 1, 2023
• February 9, 2024
• February 19, 2024
• March 8, 2024
• April 5, 2024
Undergraduate Programs
Kay Speidel, music-admission@uwm.edu
Graduate Programs
Tim Noonan, tpnoonan@uwm.edu
General Info & Questions
Contact Form | 414-229-4763