The Minnesota Percussion Association is a nonprofit educational organization that exists to further the development of the marching arts and percussion performance, working with scholastic music programs and independent organizations.

 

• MPA’s operational strategy is the conduct of indoor performance opportunities, educational symposia, percussion ensemble festivals, and other activities deemed fit in keeping with the organization’s mission.
  
  
• Competition is an inherent part of the MPA mission; however, education is the overriding objective of all MPA activities.
  
  
• MPA exists to serve and develop its participants, regardless of their existing levels of experience or skill. MPA will strive to serve all its participants equally and fairly without regard to performance levels, experience, artistic approach, or location.
  
  
• While one of MPA’s primary operational vehicles is the conduct of marching percussion performance competitions, MPA will strive to present the marching percussion idiom in the context of total percussion skill development. MPA will regularly present educational opportunities outside the boundaries of marching percussion, such as percussion ensemble festivals, symposia, etc.
  
  
• MPA’s adjudication systems exist to support the educational orientation of the MPA competitive activities. As such, those systems must address the educational needs of the competing groups in addition to providing fair and objective competitive evaluations.
  
  
• MPA expects only the highest integrity, sportsmanship, and ethical conduct from all its constituencies, including performers, instructors, directors, adjudicators, administrators, and spectators.
  
  
• MPA does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, creed, sexual orientation, origin, intellectual/physical ability, or cultural background.
  
  
• MPA must operate on a fiscally sound basis in order to provide a sustained service to its member groups. MPA will operate on a balanced-budget basis each year.