Close up image of a person playing a drum. Sheet music is seen in the background.

October 13, 2025

SIU hosts local high school, middle school musicians on Percussion Day

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Between 50 and 70 middle school and high school percussion students from throughout Southern Illinois will be at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Wednesday, Oct. 15, as part of SIU Percussion Day.

The workshops are from 9 a.m. to noon in Altgeld Hall, with a free, public performance featuring the SIU Percussion Ensemble and SIU Drumline beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Shryock Auditorium.

Percussion Day focuses on “the development of music education throughout Southern Illinois, as well as supporting our educators with additional resources they can take back to their classrooms,” said Christopher Butler, assistant professor and assistant director in SIU’s School of Music.

Media availability

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover Percussion Day events, though organizers request video cameras remain unobtrusive during the performance. For more information or assistance in arranging interviews, contact Christopher Butler, assistant professor and assistant director in the SIU School of Music at cbutler@siu.edu or 770-714-6357, or call the SIU School of Music office at 618-536-8742 the day of the event.

Students will get hands-on instruction and an exercises packet on the foundational elements of drumming and keyboard percussion, Butler said.

Percussion Day will feature three tracks — high school drumline, high school keyboard percussion and middle school. Butler will be supported in teaching by members of the SIU Percussion Studio.

Butler expects students from:

  • Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.
  • Cairo School District.
  • Carbondale Middle School.
  • Carterville High School/Carterville Junior High.
  • Du Quoin Middle School.
  • Frankfort Community High School.
  • Gallatin County School District.
  • Marion Middle School/Marion High School.
  • Massac County High School.
  • Murphysboro High School.
  • Pinckneyville Community High School.
  • Shawnee Jr/Senior High School.
  • Trico School District.
  • Unity Point Community Consolidated School District.
  • Vienna High School.