About

Mantra Percussion Inc.

Mantra Percussion, Inc. is a future-focused, BIPOC-led organization committed to an indelible influence on percussion music and the classical music landscape through the creation of new works by living composers and creators from across the social spectrum. Our organization develops communities through collaboration and support, mentors new generations of diverse artists to reshape the classical music paradigm, and engages audiences through immersive, evening-length events that challenge the traditional classical music experience. We work toward this purposeful art-making process using an ethical, equitable framework, amplifying diverse voices — particularly from historically excluded communities. In doing so, we aim to build a future where our community can thrive, connecting more parts of society through determined artistic expression.

Since forming in 2009, Mantra Percussion's ensembles have been featured throughout North America, Europe and Asia, including BAM's Next Wave Festival, the Bang on a Can Marathon, Sacrum Profanum Festival (Poland), Now Music Festival (South Korea), the GAIDA festival (Lithuania), Duke Performances, National Public Radio, the Drogheda Festival (Ireland), the Ecstatic Music Festival, Mass MoCA and more. Over the past 15 years we have commissioned and/or premiered over 100 new works for percussion ensemble.

Across our organization we've developed 4 distinct creative outlets.

Mantra Percussion: Our flagship sextet collaborates with artists from diverse backgrounds and redefines the landscape of percussion concerts and events.

Recap: a professional percussion quartet of BIPOC women, all alumni of Mantra Youth Percussion. Recap reevaluates the white, male-dominated world of percussion amplifying a message of representation, community, and equity.

The Necessary Noise Festival: our annual music festival is the largest percussion event on the east coast, bringing together scholastic, collegiate, and professional musicians to share a wide spectrum of styles, while promoting percussion to the greater community.

Mantra Youth Percussion: our tuition-free youth ensemble offers under-represented students unique, percussion music mentorship and high-level performance opportunities, giving students the tools to realize their own potential, while fostering artistic excellence and inclusiveness.

Who are we?