Coastal Carolina University's World Percussion Ensemble recently won the World Percussion Ensemble Showcase Competition sponsored by the Percussive Arts Society, the highest competition in the collegiate percussion band field.

"You should be extremely proud of this accomplishment, as this award is the pinnacle for the percussion ensemble art form," said Jeffrey Hartsough, executive director of the Percussive Arts Society & Rhythm! Discovery Center in Indianapolis, Ind.

CCU percussion director Jesse Willis said, "It is an honor to be invited to this competition, much less win it, so we are thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to show some of the great things going on at Coastal Carolina University."

Performing as "Calypsamba" for the competition, the 22-student CCU ensemble has also been invited to perform a concert for the society's International Convention on Nov. 11 to 14 in San Antonio, Texas.

The ensemble students are: Jacob Abarbanell, Ally Abbs, Cailin Aucoin, Moses Ballard, Justin Brooks, Nathan Culp, Bill Flynn, Antonio Forline, Kyle Hutton, Noelle Mason, Jasmine McCray, Arieal Lesure, Wade McMillan, Tyrice Murray, Anderson Owens, DeAndrae Preston, Micah Ray, Johnny Richeson, Alex Smith, Antonio Sparks, Christian Stevens and Brandon Vaughn.