UND Percussion Day

Join us for a day of percussion events for all area high school students!

October 31, 2026 

UND Memorial Union

REGISTER NOW

What is UND Percussion Day?

Percussion Day is non-competitive solo/ensemble festival with feedback, clinics, and a special performance by featuring our guest artist and clinicians. Drumlines and percussion students will explore Brazilian percussion instruments, marimbas, and drum sets.

Everyone is welcome to attend clinics with Michael Burritt, Professor of Percussion at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York and UND Music's Professor of Percussion, Dr. Jason Kihle. 

What is Drumline Battle?

Drumline Battle is for everyone! It is a chance for students of all abilities to play together. Everyone will have the opportunity to play alongside students from all around the region. 

Is lunch included?

Lunch will be on your own and be available at the UND Memorial Union food court, C-Store, as well has local nearby restaurants like Jimmy Johns. NOTE: UND eating establishments are all cashless and require a credit or debit card.

Where do I park?

Parking for individuals and school vans will be available in the parking ramp adjacent to the Memorial Union. Buses can drop students off on University Avenue near the Memorial Union. 

Additional Details

• If you have scheduled a UND Honor Festival audition during this time, contact Dr. James Popejoy for accommodations.
• Prizes! We will be raffling off a large variety of door prizes throughout the day and after the final concert.
• The best way to enter the Memorial Union is through the front door facing University Drive. Proceed to the second floor to the main ballroom.

UND Percussion Day Clinicians

Michael Burritt

Having performed on four continents and more than forty states, Michael Burritt is one of his generation’s leading percussionists. He is in frequent demand, performing concert tours and master classes throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. Mr. Burritt has been soloist with the United States Air Force Band, Dallas Wind Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Nexus, Third Coast Percussion, Ju Percussion Group (Taiwan), Percussion Art Quartet (Germany) and the Amores Percussion Group (Spain). Mr. Burritt has three solo as well as numerous chamber recordings. In 2018 he recorded his Home Trilogy with the world-renowned percussion group Nexus, and is soon to release a new recording of solo and chamber works by Alejandro Viñao with the Grammy Award-winning Third Coast Percussion. In 2006 he recorded the Joseph Schwantner Percussion Concerto with the Calgary Wind Ensemble on the Albany label.

He has been a featured artist at nine Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. In 1992 he presented his New York solo debut in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and in 1998 performed his London debut in the Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Mr. Burritt has extensive chamber and orchestral experience and has performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, The Chicago Symphony, Nexus, Third Coast Percussion and the The Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra.

Mr. Burritt is also active as a composer, with three concertos to his credit as well as numerous solo and chamber works for marimba and percussion. His works for solo marimba have become standard repertoire for the instrument, and are frequently required repertoire on international competitions. Commissions include The World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart Germany, The Paris International Marimba Competition, Nexus and the Paris Percussion Group. Mr. Burritt is published with Keyboard Percussion Publications, C. Alan, Masters Music, and Innovative Percussion. Burritt is also an artist/clinician and product design/consultant for Malletech, where he has developed his own line of marimba mallets and the MJB Signature Marimba. He is an artist/educational clinician with the Zildjian Company, Evans Drum Heads, and Yamaha Drums. Mr. Burritt is the President Elect of Percussive Arts Society, was a member of the Board of Directors from 1996 to2008, a contributing editor for Percussive Notes magazine from 1991 to 2006 and was chairman of the PAS Keyboard Committee from 2004 to 2010.

Michael Burritt is currently Professor of Percussion and chair of the Winds, Brass, and Percussion department at the Eastman School of Music. He is only the third person in the history of the school to hold this position. Prior to his appointment at Eastman, Mr. Burritt was Professor of Percussion at Northwestern University from 1995 to 2008, where he developed a program of international distinction. Mr. Burritt received his Bachelor (’84) and Master of Music (’86) Degrees, as well as the prestigious Performers Certificate, from the Eastman School of Music.

Dr. Jason Kihle

Dr. Jason Kihle is currently the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of North Dakota. He has been published in Early Music Colorado Quarterly, The Instrumentalist, The Educator’s Companion and Percussive Notes.

Dr. Kihle has performed and presented at various state music conferences and various national conferences, including the NAfME National Conference, the International Double Reed Society Convention, Texas Music Educators Association, the National Flute Association Convention, and the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

His compositions and books are published by Bachovich Publications. Dr. Kihle is an artist/endorser for Innovative Percussion, Yamaha, Black Swamp, Remo and Zildjian.