UB Percussion Ensemble

The UB Percussion Ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of new works for a variety of solo and multiple percussionists. It was founded by Jan Williams and John Bergamo in 1964, and has been under the direction of Tom Kolor since 2008. The ensemble has given hundreds of percussion students the opportunity to work directly with dozens of composers, preparing new works and giving professional level performances.

While the ensemble performs most of its concerts at the University at Buffalo, it has also presented concerts at Cooper Union in New York City, the Electra Concert Series in St. Catherines, Ontario, the Henry Cowell Festival in Oneonta, New York, the North American New Music Festival, the Charles Ives Institute in New Milford, Connecticut, International Conventions of the Percussive Arts Society, and, most recently, New York City's Symphony Space. The group has recorded Lukas Foss's Music for Six for CRI Records and William Ortiz's 124 East 107 Street for Opus Records.

Composers who have written for the ensemble include Nils Vigeland, Charles Boone, Rocco Di Pietro, Michael Sahl, William Ortiz, Chester Mais, John Bergamo, David Gibson, and Netty Simons.

The UB Percussion Ensemble is directed by Tom Kolor, who brings his own extensive experience as a professional percussionist to his role as director.

Please view our concert calendar for the latest information on upcoming events. 

UB Percussion Ensemble is open to percussionists and drummers from all majors. No audition is required, but members must be able to read notated music.

For more information, please contact Tom Kolor.

• Undergraduate: MUS 334, 2.0 credits
• Graduate: MUS 543, 2.0 credits

Rehearsals are to be determined depending on members’ availability, and typically require a 2 hour weekly time commitment. We will explore 20th- and 21st-century concert repertoire as well as African and Latin drumming culminating in an end of semester performance.