The Austin Percussion Collective (APC) is an indie-classical chamber percussion group that represents the thriving percussion scene in Austin, TX. Abundant with local percussionists and composers, APC is actively championing new percussion music in Austin’s live music scene.
The Austin Percussion Collective’s roster features local freelancers, educators, composers, students, and collegiate faculty. Members include alumni and current students from the Eastman School of Music, Yale School of Music, the Colburn School, and the Peabody Institute, as well as faculty members at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Texas.
Sebastian Zhang co-founder, executive director
Unapologetically embracing the electric nostalgia of a younger generation, Sebastian Zhang (b. 2003) is a composer-percussionist and asalato/kashaka player joyfully exploring the sounds of everyday objects.
Highlights include projects for and performances by Third Coast Percussion (upcoming), Sandbox Percussion, and the Living Earth Show. His compositions have been performed internationally and in over twenty-seven U.S. states, at events such as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and the Round Top Festival Institute. As an asalatist, Sebastian became the first asalatist from outside Asia to attain top 8 in competition at the ASALATO NIGHT Freestyle Battle in 2024.
Sebastian completed a B.M. in Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, studying under Ivan Trevino, Omar Thomas, Yevgeniy Sharlat, and Thomas Burritt. Sebastian is currently pursuing an M.M. in Music Composition at the Yale School of Music under the instruction of David Lang and Aaron Jay Kernis.
Marcus Alvarado communications
Marcus Alvarado is a percussionist, arranger, and composer currently based in Austin, Texas. Marcus serves as the Drumline Instructor for The University of Texas Longhorn Marching Band, directs the Longhorn percussion ensemble, and assists with The Longhorn Pep Band. Previously, he was the drumline instructor with The Baylor University Golden Wave Band and has also assisted in instructing the Drumline at the University of North Texas. He is a former member of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps and Rhythmic Force Indoor Percussion.
Marcus completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of North Texas, where he was the first recipient of the Christopher Deane Percussion Scholarship and served as the Principal Timpanist of the UNT Symphony Orchestra. Marcus later earned a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Baylor University. While at Baylor, he was a Teaching Assistant with the Baylor University Golden Wave Band and the Band division. Marcus is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at The University of Texas at Austin.
Marcus frequently performs with the Waco Symphony Orchestra and is active both as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble performer. With a passion for performance and education, he continues to explore new repertoire, foster collaboration, and inspire audiences through his work.
Chia-Yu / Erika Lin personnel manager
Chia-Yu / Erika Lin is a Taiwanese percussionist and marimbist communicating dramatic emotion with intense clarity. Her artistic journey throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States has been internationally recognized through achievements such as semifinalist placement at the 2025 World Marimba Competition, second prize in the 2025 Great Plains International Marimba Competition, first prize in the 2024 Tierras Keyboard Percussion Competition, and second prize in the 2022 Italy PAS Percussion Competition (Marimba).
As an orchestral performer, she has made appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan (NSO), the Das Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, and the Neue Philharmonie. Ensemble experience includes the EurAsian Flow Tour with the Universal Korean Organic Ensemble, the Asambura Ensemble, and the Taipei International New Music Festival.
Erika is currently pursuing a DMA in Percussion Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, studying under Prof. Thomas Burritt and Prof. Ivan Trevino. She holds degrees from the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and the University of Taipei, Taiwan, studying under Prof. Biao Li, Prof. Franz Schindlbeck, Prof. Rainer Seegers, and Prof. Jer-Huei Chen.
www.instagram.com/erika_dondondon
Bella Scotti logistics/marketing
Award-winning percussionist Bella Scotti (they/them) is a performer, educator, and arts advocate currently active in Austin, TX., as well as having performed several solo percussion gigs locally and performed with numerous ensembles, locally and nationally. They are an active private instructor for both piano and percussion, with students ranging from elementary school-age to PhD candidates. Bella serves on the Education Committee for the Percussive Arts Society, and is proud to be an endorsed educator by Sonaris Percussion and a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network.
Bella earned their Bachelor of Arts degree in music and percussion performance, a graduate Professional Performance Certificate, and a Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Penn State University as the Percussion Studio Teaching Assistant under the instruction of Dr. Lee Hinkle. They are currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Texas at Austin as the Percussion Studio Teaching Assistant under the instruction of Dr. Tom Burritt and Prof. Ivan Trevino. At UT, they teach Techniques of Percussion Performance for music studies majors, as well as private lessons to non-majors.
Sean Simpson development specialist
Sean Simpson is a percussionist and educator in the Austin area where he is finishing his bachelor’s in music performance at the University of Texas at Austin where he studies with Arlo Shultis, Ivan Trevino, and Dr. Thomas Burritt. Sean regularly performs with the UT Percussion Ensemble, UT Wind Ensemble, Austin Civic Orchestra, and regularly performs new works from composers like Kirsten Townander and Micah Rubenstein. As an educator, Sean works at Weiss High School, Cele Middle School, and Bohls Middle School where he maintains a private lesson studio of 30+ students. Alongside his role at APC, Sean serves as the Operations Manager at the Austin Civic Orchestra where he helps bring shows to life from behind-the-scenes.
Colton Townsend media
Colton Townsend is a composer, performer, and educator based in Austin, Texas. Colton’s compositions and arrangements have been premiered by the UW-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble, UW-Milwaukee Percussion Ensemble, UW-Milwaukee New Music Ensemble, University of Arkansas Percussion Ensemble, Bentonville High School Jazz Ensemble, Fayetteville High School Percussion Ensemble, and members of the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble, Slee Sinfonietta, MDI Ensemble, Formalist Quartet, and JACK Quartet. As a performer, Colton has premiered dozens of new compositions for percussion and performed with ensembles such as the Austin Percussion Collective, Present Music, and the Wisconsin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Colton is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Master’s of Music with a dual concentration in Composition and Theory and Percussion Performance from UW-Milwaukee and his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from the University of Arkansas.