About Us

Founded in 2007, the Piedmont Percussion Program was designed for experienced and inexperienced percussionists alike. Since its founding as the Lenoir-Rhyne Percussion Program 12 years prior, P3 has sponsored concerts, clinics, and special events for students with a broad range of musical goals.

Encouraging percussionists from all over the western Piedmont to participate, P3 provides playing opportunities through various percussion ensembles, including steel drums, African drums, and others.

Our staff of highly trained percussion teachers are on hand to provide lessons and guidance on all the major areas of percussion. We accept students at all levels – beginner, intermediate, advanced – from elementary school to the college level.

Ensembles are divided into 3 playing levels and concentrations based on the individual’s playing level and needs. The percussion ensembles perform regularly around the community for numerous special events. Such events include the annual North Carolina Day of Percussion, Hickory’s annual Oktoberfest, and the fall and spring a P3 concerts. Other performances include in-school concerts, local fund raisers, tours, and community festivals. P3 has been recognized in both Percussion News and Percussive Notes (national percussion magazines).

When joining P3, students have an opportunity to meet and work with percussionists from all over the local area. Participation in the program provides performance opportunities through various percussion ensembles, and the fun and excitement experienced with P3, both on stage and off, is beyond words.

P3 will help students attain many of the skills needed for post-high school challenges as a musician. The Piedmont Percussion Program is a unique community program designed for the development of young percussionists, and area band directors and music educators encourage the involvement in such programs as a tool for strengthening skills in the major areas of percussion: snare, timpani, small percussion, keyboard percussion, and hand percussion.

Our facilities at the Catawba Arts and Science Center (or Salt Block) are excellent. Rehearsals are held in the same hall used by the Western Piedmont Symphony, Western Piedmont Youth Symphony, Hickory Choral Society, and Chamber Orchestras. Tuition is paid once a semester (spring and fall) to help with the purchase and maintenance of instruments.