Idaho State University Hosts Annual Percussion Ensemble Festival Jan. 31

The Idaho State University School of Performing Arts will host the Idaho Day of Percussion on Saturday, January 31, in Goranson Hall inside the Fine Arts Building at ISU. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

This year’s guest clinicians include internationally recognized percussionists Chris Hanning (drum set) and John Wooton (rudimental percussion), with ISU’s Director of Percussion Studies, Dr. Thom Hasenpflug, serving as host. Throughout the day, attendees can enjoy high school percussion performances, hands-on clinics, and educational workshops led by the guest artists and ISU faculty.

The festival will also feature exhibition performances by the region’s premier winter indoor ensembles, Northstar and RIFT, offering audiences a preview of their 2026 competitive programs.

“I always look forward to January of each new year, when we bring in regional school programs at the top of the semester for a festival-workshop day focusing on percussion activities,” said Dr. Hasenpflug. “We always mix it up a little bit – this year we have a drum set artist, and we are again continuing with a marching/corps artist as well, since we have so many connections to rudimental drumming with the local winter drum lines in residence. It’s always an enjoyable and educational day, and I expect our 2026 offering to be that as well.”

The 2026 festival is sponsored by the ISU Department of Music, ISU Bands, the ISU Cultural Events Council, Northstar, RIFT, and leading percussion manufacturers, including Pearl Drums, Remo, Salyers Percussion, Sabian, Yamaha, Row-Loff, Tapspace, and Zildjian–Vic Firth.

For more information, visit isu.edu/music.