Drexel University's performing arts department has announced that Percussion Ensemble will be discontinued beginning in Fall 2026 due to ongoing financial challenges and the belief that percussion students can participate in other ensembles instead of having a dedicated percussion ensemble.

Percussion Ensemble is not replaceable by simply placing percussion students into other music groups. Other ensembles may include percussion, but they do not provide the same focused instruction, creative collaboration, leadership opportunities, or community that a dedicated percussion ensemble offers. Saying percussion students can just participate in other ensembles is like saying woodwind players do not need jazz band because they can play a role in orchestra, though the style of music and direction is entirely different. 

For the past 17 years, Drexel’s Percussion Ensemble has been led by a dedicated director, Mark Beecher, who has helped shape it into a unique creative space for students. Under his leadership, the ensemble has become more than a class or performance group. It has been a place where new, aspiring, and seasoned musicians gather in a shared space unlike any other ensemble. There is an element of freedom and creativity in expressing different ideas and styles of music through percussive instruments in the ensemble that was well thought out and crafted through the past nearly two decades. 

Removing Percussion Ensemble would take away an important part of Drexel’s music program and send the message that this community is not a priority. For many students, this ensemble has been a space where musicians can explore various instruments at once and a release from the routines a rigorous degree requires on a day to day basis. Outside of our musicians, the ensemble plays frequent outdoor concerts where the greater community gathers and stops their busy school day to enjoy music together. We value these experiences and memories, and want to continue to bring joy to the campus in this way.

We are asking Drexel University to reconsider this decision and work with students, faculty, alumni, and the music community to find a way to preserve Percussion Ensemble.

Please sign this petition to support bringing back Percussion Ensemble at Drexel University and protecting a creative community.