Twenty Years of Rhythm: The Journey of Third Coast Percussion

Since its formation in 2005 at Northwestern University, Third Coast Percussion has grown from a Chicago-based group of enterprising musicians playing local concerts into one of the most influential and innovative percussion ensembles in the world. Comprised of four classically trained percussionists — Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore — the ensemble quickly established itself as a dynamic force in contemporary music. With a commitment to expanding the boundaries of percussion performance, they’ve built a legacy grounded in collaboration, education, and genre-defying creativity.

Central to Third Coast Percussion’s rise has been their prolific recording output, which has served as both a platform for artistic expression and a gateway to broader audiences.

Their 2016 album — their first for Cedille Records — Third Coast Percussion | Steve Reich featured the group’s interpretation of Reich’s seminal works and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, making them the first percussion ensemble ever to receive this honor. This accolade cemented their status on the international stage and opened the door to new recording projects and high-profile collaborations. TCP has received five additional Grammy nominations as performers and, in 2021, they received their first Grammy nomination as composers.

Friday, April 11 marked TCP’s most recent album release, in celebration of the ensemble’s 20^th anniversary. Cedille Records’ Standard Stoppages, a celebration of TCP’s trademark collaborations with groundbreaking composers, is generously supported by Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation, Nancy Dehmlow, and Bruce Oltman and Bonnie McGrath.

The ensemble’s complete discography reads like a roadmap of 21^st-century music, with Cedille albums highlighting both canonical composers and contemporary voices. They’ve recorded works by Philip Glass, Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange), Jlin, and Augusta Read Thomas, among many others. Along the way, they have honed their own compositional skills, bringing their trademark collaborative spirit to their compositions.   Each release showcases Third Coast Percussion’s trademark precision and adventurousness, while recordings such as Fields (with Devonté Hynes) and Perspectives (featuring music by electronic artist Jlin) reveal their commitment to cross-genre exploration. These albums not only document their evolution but also challenge traditional notions of what percussion music can be.

Third Coast Percussion has also used recordings as a vehicle for education and outreach, partnering with schools and community organizations to provide accessible resources for students and teachers. Their album releases are often accompanied by video content, digital liner notes, and curriculum materials, extending the impact of their artistry well beyond the concert hall. In so doing, they’ve helped cultivate a new generation of listeners and musicians with a deeper appreciation for the role of rhythm and percussion in contemporary music.

Now celebrating their 20^th anniversary, Third Coast Percussion continues to innovate and inspire. Their recordings have not only amplified their voice but have become integral to their mission: to redefine the possibilities of percussion, foster creative collaboration, and engage diverse audiences around the world. As they look to the future, the ensemble shows no signs of slowing down — only of expanding the rhythmic horizon they’ve so masterfully shaped.