Stephen Downing, Graduate Assistant

Stephen Downing is a North Carolina-based composer, percussionist, and visual artist.

His music searches to find the intersection of the classical tradition, organic structures, humor, and the human condition. Some of his musical inspirations include the obsessiveness of minimalism, the energy of rock, the spirituality of sacred music, and the structures of global music. He is currently earning a Ph.D. in Music Composition from Duke University.

He is particularly interested in performing and championing contemporary solo and chamber repertoire from young composers. Some notable performances include the 2016 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) as a member of the University of Tennessee at Martin Percussion Ensemble, the Tennessee Day of Percussion as a featured performer with Anders Åstrand, and many curated concerts of contemporary music in the West Tennessee area. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from the University of Tennessee at Martin, where his teachers included Dr. Julie Hill, Dr. Shane Jones, Dr. Joshua Smith, Dr. Dan Piccolo, and Dr. Daniel Heagney.

Stephen also enjoys photography, videography, and graphic design. His photography has been featured in publications such as Percussive Notes, Rhythm! Scene, and Yamaha Musical Instruments. He has collaborated with X4 Percussion Quartet, Hijinx Clarinet Quartet, and the Percussive Arts Society as a videographer.

More information can be found at stephendowning.com.

Please note: Stephen has left the "Music" group at Duke University; some info here might not be up to date.

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