Louisiana Tech Percussion

2025-2026 CONCERT & EVENTS SCHEDULE

Sam Shahin | Middle East drumset clinic (hosted by Centenary College)

Oct 3, 2025 | Feazel Instrumental Hall | 4pm

Brady Blade Jr./Nikki Glaspie/Stanton Moore | drumset workshops (presented at Red River Revel)

Oct 4, 2025 | Advocate Depot Stage | 3:30pm/5pm/8pm

Percussion Ensemble & Wind Ensemble | fall concert

Nov 6, 2025 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Percussive Arts Society International Convention

Nov 12-15, 2025 | Indianapolis Convention Center

Maddie Shake | orchestral clinic

Jan 9, 2026 | Band Building 108 | 3pm

Sandbox Percussion | masterclass

Feb 8, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Sandbox Percussion | guest ensemble concert

Feb 9, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Cara Wildman | bodhrán clinic

Feb 20, 2026 | Band Building 108 | 3pm

Louisiana Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion (hosted by the University of Louisiana at Monroe)

Feb 21, 2026 | Brown Auditorium

Percussion Ensemble | winter concert

Feb 23, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Percussion Ensemble | spring tour

Mar 4-6, 2026

North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble Festival with Arnor Chu

Mar 20, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm
Mar 21, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 9am – 5pm

Brett Harrison | senior recital

Apr 12, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 2pm

Andy Lord | elective recital

Apr 23, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Zach Anderson | senior recital

May 8, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Percussion Ensemble | spring concert

May 11, 2026 | Howard Auditorium | 7pm

Four unique concentrations in music are available for undergraduate study at Louisiana Tech

Music Performance

Music Education

Music Liberal Arts

Music Industry Studies

Performance opportunities for percussionists at Louisiana Tech include

Percussion Ensemble

Symphonic Wind Ensemble

Concert Band

Jazz Ensemble

Marching Band of Pride

Hoop Troop

Pop Ensemble

Percussion faculty bio

Gregory Lyons is Associate Professor of Music and the James Alvey Smith Endowed Professor at Louisiana Tech University where he teaches applied percussion, directs the percussion ensemble, coaches the drum line, and serves as the coordinator of instrumental music education.

As a solo and ensemble performer, Dr. Lyons has made appearances in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Michigan, Utah, and California. Recent appearances include the 2025 International Clarinet Association’s Low Clarinet Fest with clarinetist Dr. Trevor Davis (Southern Utah Univ.) as one half of Delamo Duo, and both the 2024 Percussive Arts Society International Convention and 2024 National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy with Dr. Oliver Molina (Northwestern State Univ.), Dr. Joe W. Moore III (UT-Arlington), and Dr. Gustavo Miranda (Nicholls State Univ.) as a member of the Ninkasi Percussion Group. In December 2025, the group will appear at the 79th Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago. Dr. Lyons performs as principal timpanist with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra (Alexandria, LA) and also performs regularly with the Shreveport Symphony, the Monroe Symphony, and the South Arkansas Symphony.

Each summer, Dr. Lyons co-coordinates New Music on the Bayou, a contemporary classical music festival, which he co-founded in 2016. He also coordinates the North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble Festival at Louisiana Tech. He earned degrees from The Ohio State University (DMA), Central Michigan University (MM), and the Wheaton College Conservatory (BME). His principal teachers included Dr. Susan Powell, Dr. Andrew Spencer, and Dr. Kathleen Kastner. He is a past president and former treasurer of the Louisiana Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, and is a proud endorser of Grover Pro Percussion, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, SABIAN Cymbals and Majestic Percussion.

North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble Festival

The North Louisiana Youth Percussion Ensemble Festival brings guest artists and high school percussion ensembles from across the region to the Louisiana Tech campus each spring. The Honors Youth Percussion Ensemble, comprised of select students from each participating ensemble, is coached and conducted by our visiting guests.

2012 | Dr. Blake Tyson (University of Central Arkansas)

2013 | Dr. Adam Blackstock (Troy University)

2014 | She-e Wu (Northwestern University)

2015 | Anders Åstrand

2017 | Kevin Bobo (Indiana University)

2018 | Dr. Brad Meyer (Stephen F. Austin State University)

2022 | Sympatico Percussion

2026 | Arnor Chu

About the program

The percussion studio is comprised of 12–16 members. Students receive an individual lesson and participate in a group studio class each week. The Louisiana Tech Percussion Ensemble has performed at multiple Percussive Arts Society Days of Percussion and is open to both music majors and non-music majors. The Louisiana Tech Drumline is comprised of between 7–9 snares, 4–5 tenors, 5–7 basses, and 5–7 cymbals. For more information about the program or to schedule an audition, contact Dr. Gregory Lyons at glyons@latech.edu or call (318) 257-5470.