PCD Percussion

About the Artist

Paul Downing is a performer and educator from Massachusetts with a deep passion for classical, contemporary, and marching percussion. Currently residing in Katy, Texas, he works as a freelance percussion specialist throughout the Houston area.

Paul has performed extensively at several state and national conferences, including the Percussive Arts Society International Conference, Iowa Day of Percussion, and the CBDNA Eastern Division Conference as a featured soloist with the UMass Amherst Symphony Band alongside Michael Burritt. He also participated in the 2015 HubWeek Festival in Boston, performing in "Waking the Monster" at Fenway Park under the direction of Maria Finkelmeier. In 2018, Paul traveled to Ireland on a concert tour with the University of Iowa, and can be heard playing steel pan on Andy Narrell and the University of Iowa's collaborative album, "Jungle Music." Additionally, he was a member of the 2013 and 2014 Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, performing auxiliary percussion in their front ensemble. The Cadets received the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award in 2013.

Paul has served as Assistant Percussion Director at Morton Ranch High School in Katy and Travis High School in Richmond. He is a front ensemble instructor for Morton Ranch, Travis and Cypress Woods High School, and is on the private lesson staff for Katy ISD and Magnolia ISD. He has also taught front ensemble at Rhythmic Force Percussion and Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to moving to Texas, Paul taught at many schools and independent programs throughout Iowa and New England, including Crossroads Percussion and 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.

Paul received an M.A. in Percussion Performance at the University of Iowa where he assumed the role of Graduate Assistant and Drumline TA, working closely with Dr. Dan Moore, Kevin Kastens and Dr. Mark Heidel. As Drumline TA, Paul ran the university's marching percussion program, which involved teaching the drumline, writing their music and coordinating equipment needs and travel logistics. He also holds a B.M. in Music Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he played in the Minuteman Marching Band Drumline for four years under Thom Hannum, He credits much of his success to his studies at UMass with Hannum, Ayano Kataoka, and Colin McNutt.

Paul is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and the Texas Music Educators Association.