ABOUT

• Dr. Ty Ellender (b. 1996) is a percussionist, composer, and educator based in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

• Ty recently received his DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) Degree in Percussion Performance with a minor in Jazz Studies from Louisiana State University. He also received a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from LSU in 2021. While at LSU, Ty worked with The Golden Band from Tigerland as the Drumline Instructor and helped arrange percussion parts for several halftime shows. Ty also works with several high school bands around the state, both as an educator and arranger. 

• Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Ty attended McNeese State University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at McNeese, Ty served as drum captain for the MSU Drumline and principal percussionist for the Wind Symphony. He was also involved in percussion ensemble, jazz band, wind ensemble, steel band, and more.

• In addition, Ty has performed with several orchestras around Louisiana including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and the Lake Charles Symphony.

• Ty has been involved in Drum Corps International, marching with Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps for their 2015 production of “Phantom Revisited.” He also marched with The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps for the 2018 production of “The Unity Project.”

• From a young age, Ty began composing/arranging drumline cadences and marching band shows, eventually moving on to percussion ensembles. His first piece, Tension (2014), is a percussion quartet that was written during his last year of high school. Since then, Ty has written and premiered several of his pieces for solo percussion, percussion ensemble, piano and more. Ty has released two albums of solo percussion works entitled “Stay Forever Young” and “PUSHBACK.” 

• Outside of academia, Ty has performed and recorded with several musical artists. His most notable collaboration was with Jo-El Sonnier, a Grammy Award-Winning cajun artist from Rayne, Louisiana. Ty performed with Jo-El for roughly 10 years. During that time, he was able to perform all across the country at events such as: Grand Ole Opry, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Festival Acadiens et Créoles, Cajun & Blues Festival, and much more. Ty was fortunate enough to record on Jo-El Sonnier’s final album, “Suvivants” at Dockside Studios in 2021. Ty also performs regularly with local blues, jazz, and brass bands such as Louisiana Yard Dogs, Brasshearts, YOUSE, and more.