.Jensen L. Thomassie (b. 2001) is a percussionist, educator, and internationally performed composer based in Easley, South Carolina, where he serves as an elementary music teacher at East Side Elementary School. He holds a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance and Music Composition from Furman University. His primary percussion teachers include Scott Herring, Omar Carmenates, and Justin Watt. His primary composition teachers include Jay Bocook, Mark Kilstofte, and Peter B. Kay.
As a composer, Thomassie’s catalog includes over 30 works for percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra, voice, string quartet, electronics, and more. His music is regularly performed across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and has been performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City. He is regularly commissioned by solo artists and ensembles including What Is Noise new music ensemble.
As a performer, Thomassie has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention three times: first with the Furman University Percussion Ensemble in the new music research session in 2019, with Furman again in 2022 performing as one of the winners of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition, and finally in 2024 as a member of the University of South Carolina Percussion Ensemble as a winner of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition again. Thomassie regularly performs as a section percussionist with the Poinsett Wind Symphony and serves as a substitute percussionist with the Aiken Symphony.
An active member of the pageantry arts, Thomassie is an in-demand percussion arranger and sound designer for multiple band programs in the Southeast, including Blue Ridge HS., Eastside HS, Greer HS, Hillcrest HS, J.L. Mann HS, Liberty HS, Northgate HS, Wade Hampton HS, and Woodmont HS. Thomassie has marched with Music City Drum Corps, the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, the Furman University Paladin Regiment, and the New Orleans Saints Drumline, where he also served as a music writer and arranger. Thomassie has previously served as Director of Percussion at J.L. Mann High School, where he won a state championship in CWEA Percussion Scholastic Novice with the J.L. Mann Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Most recently, Thomassie served as the Carolina Band Drumline Graduate Assistant, where he taught drumline, arranged half-time drumline music, and coached undergraduate percussion ensembles.
As a composer, Thomassie’s catalog includes over 30 works for percussion ensemble, wind ensemble, orchestra, voice, string quartet, electronics, and more. His music is regularly performed across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and has been performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City. He is regularly commissioned by solo artists and ensembles including What Is Noise new music ensemble.
As a performer, Thomassie has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention three times: first with the Furman University Percussion Ensemble in the new music research session in 2019, with Furman again in 2022 performing as one of the winners of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition, and finally in 2024 as a member of the University of South Carolina Percussion Ensemble as a winner of the International Percussion Ensemble Competition again. Thomassie regularly performs as a section percussionist with the Poinsett Wind Symphony and serves as a substitute percussionist with the Aiken Symphony.
An active member of the pageantry arts, Thomassie is an in-demand percussion arranger and sound designer for multiple band programs in the Southeast, including Blue Ridge HS., Eastside HS, Greer HS, Hillcrest HS, J.L. Mann HS, Liberty HS, Northgate HS, Wade Hampton HS, and Woodmont HS. Thomassie has marched with Music City Drum Corps, the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, the Furman University Paladin Regiment, and the New Orleans Saints Drumline, where he also served as a music writer and arranger. Thomassie has previously served as Director of Percussion at J.L. Mann High School, where he won a state championship in CWEA Percussion Scholastic Novice with the J.L. Mann Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Most recently, Thomassie served as the Carolina Band Drumline Graduate Assistant, where he taught drumline, arranged half-time drumline music, and coached undergraduate percussion ensembles.