Eric Willie
TN Tech. University - United States
Overview
Dr. Eric Willie serves as Associate Professor of Percussion at Tennessee Tech University (TTU) in Cookeville, TN where he teaches applied percussion, directs the Classical and Pop Percussion Ensembles, and arranges for the TTU Golden Eagle Drum Line. In addition, Eric serves as President for the Tennessee Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and as a member of the PAS Education Committee.
Eric regularly performs with the Nief-Norf New Music Ensemble and the Eclectic Chamber Players. He has been a featured performer at the 2003, 2007, and 2009-2011 Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the 2009 and 2006 Eastern Trombone Workshops, the 2005 Florida Electroacoustic Music Festival, the 2003 World Saxophone Congress, and the 2001 Bands of America National Percussion Festival. He has performed with the Nashville Symphony, Nashville Philharmonic, Murfreesboro Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, Beloit/Janesville Symphony, Oak Ridge Symphony, and as Principal Percussionist with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Eric made his second Carnegie Hall appearance as an extra percussionist with the Nashville Symphony last May during the Spring for Music festival.
An avid promoter of new music for percussion, Eric most recently commissioned and performed the world premiere of John Mackey’s Drum Music (2011), a concerto for solo percussion and wind ensemble, with the TTU Wind Ensemble conducted by Joseph Hermann. Additionally, Eric has commissioned and/or premiered works by Jason Baker, Doug Bristol, Greg Danner, Christopher Deane, Leroy Osmon, Paul Lansky, John Psathas, D.J. Sparr, Blake Tyson, and James Wood.
Besides his talents as a classical percussionist, Eric is well known for his marching-percussion arranging and teaching experience. He currently serves as a percussion consultant with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and has served as instructor and/or arranger for the Spirit of JSU, Southwind, Carolina Crown and the Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps. The University of North Texas, University of Kentucky, and the Murray State University Drum Lines have performed his marching percussion arrangements. In addition, he has instructed for the University of North Texas "A" Line, Music City Mystique, served as Arranger for the University of Kentucky Indoor Drum Line (2000 WGI College Class World Champions), and served on Faculty for the Bands of America World Percussion Symposium. As a clinician, Eric most recently presented the “New Literature for Percussion Ensemble” session with the TTU Percussion Ensemble at PASIC in Austin, TX. Additionally, Eric has appeared at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL, as well as several state music educators' conventions throughout the midwest and southeastern United States. His educational articles have appeared in The Instrumentalist and Percussive Notes, and he has contributed educational resources to Innovative Percussion, Inc., Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drumheads, and Black Swamp Percussion.
Eric holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music from the University of Kentucky, and a BS in Music Education from Austin Peay State University.
Eric and his wife, Rebecca (violinist with the Nashville Symphony), reside in Nashville, TN with their son Aiden, dog Lucy, and their cats Mouki and Peaches.