What is the Texas Virtual Percussion Contest (TVPC)?

PitHacks is proud to announce the return of THE Texas Virtual Percussion Contest!

To participate, each ensemble will need to complete the form via the following link:

-First place will be awarded a CASH donation to their band boosters or program.

-Open to Texas high school percussion ensembles; 2 divisions: large and small

-Submission deadline is May 1st

-Each ensemble will also receive detailed FEEDBACK from each judge AND are eligible to win RAFFLE PRIZES!

Join us for the Virtual Showcase on May 22nd, 2026 at 6:00 PM CST. The winner will be announced at the end of the program!

Adjudication Panel

Hector Gil

Hector Gil is the owner of Hector Gil Percussion LLC, and serves as a percussion education consultant, curriculum designer, clinician, adjudicator, and arranger for various programs across the U.S. Most recently, he served as Director of Percussion at Vista Ridge High School and Henry Middle School. Hector attended East Texas A&M University (formally Texas A&M University - Commerce), where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree. He was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Bluecoats 50th Anniversary Drum Corps. Hector’s professional affiliations include The Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and he is a proud artist with Innovative Percussion, Sabian, and Marimba One.

Joe Hobbs

Joe Hobbs served as Director of Percussion at Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas, from 2016–2025. Under his direction, the percussion program earned both national recognition and competitive success. The drum line won the Dripping Springs Drum Line Contest in 2016, 2017, and 2019, as well as the Lone Star Classic in 2018. In 2019, the Vandegrift Drum Line was invited to perform as a featured clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis. The Vandegrift Percussion Ensemble was also selected to perform at the 2017 and 2024 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

Since opening in 2009, the Vandegrift band program has received national recognition. The program was named the 2022 and 2023 UIL 6A Texas Marching Band State Champion and earned the title of BOA Grand National Champion in 2019. Additional honors include performing in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, being selected as a featured ensemble at the 2021 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, receiving the 2020 Sudler Shield and Sudler Flag, earning the 2021 UIL 6A Silver Medal, and being named the 2018 UIL 6A Honor Band.

Joe has been involved with Drum Corps International (DCI) for over 20 years and currently serves as the Battery Arranger and Caption Head for the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to Crown, he was on the percussion staff for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, where the ensemble earned the Fred Sanford Award for High Percussion in 2022—the first in corps history—and won the 2024 DCI World Championship. He also served as Battery Arranger for Music City Drum Corps (2023–2024), during which the percussion section achieved the highest placement in corps history (2023). Previously, Joe was Percussion Caption Head for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2015–2018). He has also served on the percussion staffs of Phantom Regiment and Spirit of Atlanta, and was a Battery Instructor with Music City Mystique from 2009–2011.

Joe is a sought-after writer, clinician, and adjudicator. Tapspace Publications published his snare drum method book, The Starting Line, which focuses on developing young players’ rhythmic comprehension and expanding rudimental vocabulary. He has also published multiple percussion ensemble works through Tapspace. His marching percussion arrangements have been performed by The University of Texas, The University of Alabama, The Ohio State University, and the Phantom Regiment.

Mr. Hobbs holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Murray State University and a Master’s degree in Music Education from Lamar University. He is endorsed by Pearl Drums, Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Evans Drumheads. He resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Kara, and their daughter, Nina.

Caleb Pickering

Dr. Caleb Pickering (1990) is an accomplished percussionist, composer, and educator, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. An active performer, Caleb has presented his original works at international venues, including a featured solo recital at the Taipei National Bioinnovation Park Concert Hall in Taiwan (2024), and performances at the American Percussion Symposium (2021) and Birmingham Symphony Hall (2019).

Caleb is a highly sought-after clinician, providing masterclasses, clinics, adjudication, and guest lectures at numerous national and international institutions and events such as the American Percussion Symposium, Phonon Percussion Festival, Australian Percussion Eisteddfod Competition, and World Percussion Group.

As a composer, Caleb regularly receives commissions from universities, professional ensembles, and soloists worldwide. His works are performed internationally, have become staples in percussion repertoire, and are available through major music retailers.

His contributions to percussion have earned him recognition, including being a finalist for the American Prize in Composition for his works *An Assembly of Outrage* and *Beneath*. Caleb was composer-in-residence for the World Percussion Group International Tour (2019) and a semi-finalist in the Italy Percussive Arts Society International Competition (2018). He has been featured in numerous interviews and scholarly publications.

Caleb is also known as a co-host of the @percussion podcast, which has garnered over 150,000 listens and 25,000 hours of listening time, alongside colleagues Casey Cangelosi, Ksenija Komljenović, Ben Charles, and Karli Viña.

He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from James Madison University (2020), a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (2015), and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce (2012).

Caleb holds artist sponsorships with Tama|Bergerault Instruments, Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Gon Bops Percussion, Heritage Musical Spoons, and Beetle Percussion.

OFFICAL RULES:

CURRENT TOP PRIZE:

Cash donation to winning program of both divisions (Based on number of submissions)

1. Only Texas high school percussion ensembles may enter.

2. All ensembles must have a director from their program as a point of contact.

3. Submission must be played by percussion studio members only--no guest artists.

4. Submissions should consist of only one piece of music, in its entirety. A single movement of a larger work will be accepted.

5. A Program may submit multiple entries so long as each piece is registered and submitted individual registration fees, equal to the number of submissions.

6. Submissions must consist of a single take of audio and video. Only one video angle is required. *Please note: audio and video quality will not be adjudicated.

7. No editing of audio is allowed.

8. Registration for each ensemble must be completed by May 1st. Fees are due at this time. However, video uploads can be submitted at an earlier date by editing this form. Complete registration, pdf of music scores, fees, and video uploads are due by May 1st

9. Winners will be announced on May 22nd during the TVPC Virtual Showcase at 6 PM CST.