Cody Holmes (b. 1995) is originally from Lubbock Texas. Holmes graduated from Texas Tech University where he was a percussion student of Dr. Lisa Rogers and Alan Shinn. During his time at Texas Tech, Holmes served as Principal for the Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra as well as Drumline Captain for the ‘Goin Band From Raiderland.’ Holmes was also a member of the Percussion Ensemble I, Steel Band (Apocalypso Now), and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. While studying at Texas Tech, Cody became a founding member of the Holmes Percussion Duo, consisting of himself and his brother, Ben. His first composition for the duo, Insomnia, has quickly become a standard in Marimba Duet literature and is regularly performed across the globe.

Since graduating from Texas Tech, Holmes has remained a prolific and dynamic percussion composer, publishing several works for solos, duets, and large ensembles. His music has been described as ”Beautiful and Captivating” by Percussive Notes New Literature Reviews. Recently, Cody was commissioned by the University of Texas at Arlington to compose A Sky Full of Ghosts, a medium sized keyboard ensemble that was premiered in the Spring of 2021. Holmes remains an active performer with the Holmes percussion Duo, performing across the country, including at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy (2013). In addition to composing, Cody is a dedicated percussion educator and is currently the director of percussion at Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Tx. While at Shadow Creek, Holmes has taught multiple Texas Music Educators Association All-State musicians and is an active clinician throughout the state. Holmes is proud to be an Innovative Percussion Educator.

· BME (education) – Texas Tech University

Originally from Lubbock, Texas, DR. BENJAMIN HOLMES serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion Studies at Texas Tech University. He is an accomplished percussionist, educator, and composer. Holmes earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University, where he studied under Lisa Rogers and Alan Shinn. He later completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Oklahoma in 2017 with Dr. Lance Drege and went on to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance from Texas Tech University in 2022.

From 2018 to 2025, Holmes served as the Percussion Coordinator and Arranger for the University of Oklahoma’s Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. During this time, he also taught applied percussion lessons to both undergraduate and graduate students as a member of the University of Oklahoma (OU) Percussion Studio Faculty. While based in Oklahoma, he was an active performer with ensembles including the Norman Philharmonic, Frontier Brass Band, Avant Garden contemporary music ensemble, among many others.

Holmes is the co-founder of the Holmes Percussion Duo, alongside his brother Cody Holmes. Together, they have composed over 20 original works for percussion solo, duo, quartet, and ensemble, and their performances have garnered over two million views on social media. The duo was awarded Second Place in the 2022 North American International Music Competition (Chamber Music category), Third Place in the 2024 American Prize in Chamber Music and was selected as a member of the prestigious World Percussion Group in 2023.

As a composer, Holmes’s original percussion music has been performed in concert halls around the world, including the Sydney Opera House and Taiwan’s Eslite Performance Hall. His percussion duo Palm Reader was named a JW Pepper Editor’s Choice nominee. His works are published by Tapspace Publications, C. Alan Publications, and HolmesPercussion.com. Additionally, he serves on the Percussion Arts Society Composition Committee. Holmes is a Yamaha Performing Artist and proudly endorses Vic Firth sticks & mallets, as well as Zildjian cymbals.