The Alma College Percussion Ensemble, founded in 1989 by David Zerbe, is a multi-faceted performance ensemble. The group performs traditional chamber music as well as world music, jazz, and steel drum music. Recent appearances include main stage performances at the 2006-2009, 48th-51st Annual Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival; 2004, 2005, and 2008 Ford Detroit International Jazz Festivals; the 2007 Port Townsend Jazz Festival in Port Townsend, Washington; the 2007 Michigan Music conference at DeVos Hall, Grand Rapids; 2006 Rhythm Outreach Chicago, a one week service learning residency at the Choir Academy, an inner-city middle school in Chicago; the 2004 Great Events Series at Michigan Technological University; and with the Alma Choirs at the Midland Center for the Arts. While on tour with the Alma College Concert Band, the ensemble has performed concerts in Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Orlando, and throughout Michigan. The group has also been featured performing Orff’s Carmina Burana and Schedrin’s Carmen with the Alma Symphony Orchestra.

Members of the ensemble are in demand throughout the state as private instructors, and percussion ensemble and marching percussion coaches. In addition, the percussion ensemble co-hosts the Alma College/Hohner Institute of Percussion Summer Percussion Workshop in affiliation with Yamaha Corporation of America’s "Sounds of Summer Camps," a comprehensive two-week hands-on workshop providing participants with a broad experience in instrumental percussion performance. The 2010 workshop takes place in June 20-July 3. Please contact Dave Zerbe at the Alma College Percussion Studio for more information at percussionstudio@alma.edu.