Known as "The Ambassadors of the University of Texas at Arlington," the UTA Marching Band is one of the only college marching bands in the nation to exist without a football team. For almost 20 years, the UTA Marching Band has pioneered a new path in musical and visual excellence, striving to provide audiences with state-of-the-art presentations. The band performs annually for crowds numbering 100,000 and is featured in exhibition performances at state and local contests, such as Bands of America and Regional UIL, as well as festivals and high school and professional football games. In 2001, the band performed in exhibition at the Bands of America Grand Nationals Championship, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 175 student musicians in the band represent almost all academic disciplines and majors within the University. Excellence and excitement are the cornerstones for the UTA Marching Band's tradition of success.

The Director of Marching Percussion is Jim Yakas. Jim earned his Bachelor’s of Music Education at the University of North Texas in 2000 and Master’s in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University in 2002. He has been an instructor and steel band director at the University of Minnesota and taught at the Minnetonka Public Schools, University of Central Florida, Northern Illinois Community School of the Arts, Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps before coming to UTA. He is also a freelance percussionist and has performed in a classical drum set and as a world music artist.

Check out our exclusive video clips of the UTA Drumline!

CLIP #1: Interview with Jim Yakas, Director of Marching Percussion:    |    HIGH QUALITY   |   LOW QUALITY   |

CLIP #2: Drum Solo (from George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F):     |    HIGH QUALITY   |   LOW QUALITY   |

CLIP #3: 2005 Show Excerpts:     |    HIGH QUALITY   |   LOW QUALITY   |

For more information about the UTA Drumline, or the Undergraduate Percussion Program at the University of Texas at Arlington, contact

Dr. Michael Varner, Professor of Percussion
Email: mvarner@uta.edu

Jim Yakas, Assistant Percussion Professor/Director of Marching Percussion
Email: yakas@uta.edu

Fall Semester Opportunities for UTA and area High School percussion students:

Each year, UTA hosts a “Winter Drumline” as an outreach to local high school students and UTA non-percussion majors. Its goals are:

To develop advanced marching percussion techniques
Learn from local and national experts in the marching percussion field
Meet and perform with high school and college students in the D/FW area
Perform a piece on UTA’s annual Spring Percussion Concert

Auditions will be held Sat Jan. 14th 1-3 PM and Sat. Jan. 21st 1-3PM at the UTA Band Hall

For more information, visit the UTA percussion page online at http://www.uta.edu/music/band/percussion.htm