About the Studio

Thad Anderson is an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Central Florida (UCF) where he coordinates the Percussion Studies program, teaches applied lessons, and directs both the UCF Percussion Ensemble and the New Music Ensemble. Joining the UCF faculty in 2009, Anderson also teaches courses in music technology and oversees the concert audio engineering team. His career blends performance, pedagogy, and technology, with a strong emphasis on contemporary music and composition. An accomplished solo, chamber, and orchestral musician, Anderson has contributed to numerous recordings, including releases on Cantaloupe, Naxos, Ravello Records, Flying Horse Records, and Innova labels. His performance credits include the Alterity Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Bach Festival, Austin Chamber Music Center, Round Top Festival-Institute, Syracuse Society for New Music, Make Music New York, Accidental Music Festival, Winter Park Bach Festival, Days of Percussion in Florida, Texas, Idaho, and Oklahoma, the Texas and Florida Music Educators Association convention, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Austin, Waco, and Brevard Symphony Orchestras. Anderson has been a featured soloist with Conspirare, the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, UCF Wind Ensemble, and the Murray State University Wind Ensemble. Anderson is a sought-after clinician, lecturer, and performer, presenting across the United States and internationally as far as Bangkok, Thailand. As a composer, Anderson’s works encompass percussion, mixed chamber music, and multimedia. His compositions have been featured in award-winning documentary films like Standard Deviation and Finding Tyler, as well as in full-dome theaters and museums worldwide in collaboration with Christopher Brannan and Diana Reichenbach. He publishes his original works through Plus Two Media, with additional projects released through Universal Edition and Peters Edition. Dedicated to advancing new music, Anderson actively commissions and collaborates with composers such as Paul Lansky, Marc Mellits, Tiffany Connell, Zack Browning, Steven Snowden, Jonathan Kolm, John Serry, Martin Bresnick, Halim El-Dabh, and Travis Jeffords, fostering new works for percussion and chamber ensembles. Additionally, Anderson is highly active in the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) community where he currently serves as President of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee and contributes to the various PAS publications. He is also a frequent evaluator and faculty member at the Music For All National Percussion Festival and Summer Symposium and is on faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in the summer. Dr. Anderson completed his undergraduate work in Music Education at the University of Central Florida and received his Master’s of Music and Doctorate of Music Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. Thad Anderson plays Yamaha percussion instruments, Vic Firth sticks and mallets, Zildjian cymbals, and Remo drumheads.

Mr. Gay is currently the Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies and an Instructor of Music at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. He teaches student lessons for the percussion studio and directs “Black Steel” the UCF steel drum ensemble. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician and an endorser and clinician for Sabian Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, Salyer Percussion sticks & Mallets and Evans Heads. As a composer and arranger he has works published by Tapspace Publications, Alfred Publications and Pan Press Publications. Mr. Gay’s timpani etude book “Pedal to the Kettle”, released by Tapspace Publications, is used in many states for All-State auditions as well on the state solo lists. Mr. Gay obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University. He later went on to study with Paul Yancich and Richard Weiner at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received his Master’s Degree in Timpani Performance. An active clinician, Mr. Gay has presented many clinics and master classes at universities and high schools in the U.S and abroad. He has performed clinics at the Florida and Alaska PAS Day of Percussion and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Mr. Gay has also published numerous articles for Percussive Notes magazine, the Texas Bandmasters Association, School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He performs regularly with the Walt Disney World Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonic, The Florida Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic and currently is the Principal Percussionist with The Brevard Symphony Orchestra and the Principal Timpanist with the Bach Festival Orchestra of Winter Park, FL. Mr. Gay marched in Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps from 1986 – 1989 where he was 1989 DCI Timpani Individuals Champion and two time DCM Timpani Individuals Champion. He has taught and written for many drum and bugle corps including The Crossmen, Phantom Regiment, Magic of Orlando, Empire Statesmen and The Yokohama Inspires from Japan. Mr. Gay was head arranger and percussion coordinator with the Phantom Regiment in 1996 when they won the DCI Championship.

Jeffrey M. Moore has served as dean of UCF’s College of Arts and Humanities since 2017 leading the college through a transformative period of growth and innovation, emphasizing the integration of technology into the college’s traditional disciplines and launching new academic programs aligned with workforce demands. His leadership has positioned the college as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, creative inquiry and community engagement. Under Moore’s guidance, the college has expanded its digital and experiential learning opportunities, strengthened industry partnerships and introduced forward-looking curricula that prepare students for evolving careers in the creative and cultural sectors, including the addition of the themed experience graduate program. His tenure has also seen the creation and growth of UCF Celebrates the Arts, a signature event that showcases the university’s creative and scholarly excellence while fostering community engagement. A professor of music (percussion) and a member of the UCF faculty since 1994, Moore served as the founding director of the School of Performing Arts and chair of the Music Department. He has been instrumental in achieving national accreditation for both the theatre and music departments. As an educator, he has taught applied percussion, directed the UCF Percussion Ensemble and marimba band, and mentored generations of musicians. An internationally recognized percussionist, Moore has performed with major symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles and drum corps around the world. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist/Clinician and endorses Paiste cymbal, sounds and gongs. He endorses Salyers Percussion sticks and mallets, and has two signature model sticks and eight keyboard mallet models. He also endorses Remo Drum Heads and Latin Percussion. He is a contributing author to Teaching Percussion by Gary Cook and has published method books and percussion ensemble arrangements with various publishers, including Alfred Publishing. Through his visionary leadership, scholarship and advocacy, Moore has elevated the college’s visibility and impact, ensuring that the arts and humanities remain vital, relevant and responsive in a rapidly evolving world.