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

September 15, 2026

SIU hosts local high school musicians Wednesday on Percussion Day

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Roughly 75 high school percussion students from throughout Southern Illinois and Kentucky will be at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Wednesday, Sept. 16, as part of the third annual 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.

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.

Hands-on workshops feature three tracks — high school drumline, high school keyboard percussion and drum set. Christopher Butler, assistant professor and assistant director in SIU’s School of Music, along with graduate music students Keaton Jones, Lucas Barger and Mackenzie Riedy, will instruct and work with the high school students.

SIU Percussion Day is the first part of an educational event series from the SIU School of Music. Future events focus on brass, woodwinds and other areas.

“These outreach opportunities are devoted to strengthening music education across our region and strengthening ties between local high school programs and future Salukis” Butler said.

SIU expects students from:

  • Anna-Jonesboro Community High School.
  • Benton Consolidated High School.
  • Carbondale Community High School.
  • Carterville High School.
  • Eldorado High School.
  • Gallatin County High School.
  • Herrin High School.
  • Massac County High School.
  • McCracken County High School.
  • Vernon Township High School.
  • Murphysboro High School.
  • Pinckneyville Community High School.
  • Shawnee High School.
  • Vienna High School.