Porter Ellerman (b.1999) is an American-born percussionist, composer, sound artist, and environmental activist residing in the Netherlands. His work meshes musical performance practices with environmental activism — specifically, the relationship and power percussion has as a tool for connecting individuals to objects, waste, and facets of our environments. Porter is a classically trained percussionist with a deep passion for experimenting, innovation, and connecting with audiences. His work attempts to blur the line between performer and audience in search of a deeper connection to people, the performance space, and our Earth. His interests are currently in working alongside lighting, video, theater, dance, and visual artists to develop a method and practice for environmental performance. His experience with building instruments, using Ableton Live, and engaging with audiences means that connectivity, community, listening, and awareness permeate his creative work. 

Porter graduated with special distinction in his Master’s from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, participating for both years as the sole percussionist in the premiere contemporary ensemble of the conservatory, the Ensemble Academy. As a core member of both Ear to the Earth and the New European Ensemble, he regularly performs across Europe in various projects. He also performs original solo and chamber programs, having developed numerous collaborative multidisciplinary projects in the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, France, Belgium, and Italy.