Terry Cornett has served as HSO principal percussionist since 1975. An excellent and versatile freelance musician with 33 years professional experience, Mr. Cornett enjoys "first-call" status for regional theater, chorus, ballet and church productions, as well as touring Broadway musicals. Experienced in a broad spectrum of popular styles, he performs styles from country and western to pop rock and from German polka bands to mainstream jazz. Mr. Cornett performs regularly across the nation with the Olde Towne Brass, Alabama's only authentic Civil War band, in which he serves as drum sergeant, music arranger and historian.
    Mr. Cornett is a frequent "Artist-In-Residence" for the Huntsville Arts Council's Camp Success program and maintains a private teaching studio in his home. An editor, arranger and publisher, he arranged 11 Stephen Foster selections for the internationally acclaimed Chestnut Brass Company’s CD: “Foster for Brass,” released on Naxos Records. His editions of 19th-century brass band music have been purchased abroad. Terry recently scored special music for two PBS documentaries by Ken Burns: "Not For Ourselves Alone," about the struggles for women's suffrage of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and the blockbuster "History of Jazz," where his arrangements were used during the discussion of, Alabama born, James Reese Europe, whose 369th U.S. Infantry “Hellfighters” Band introduced jazz to France, when they weren’t fighting in the trenches during WWI.
    Mr. Cornett is the sole propietor/maker of Heritage Drums, which specializes in historically accurate, custom hand-crafted, rope-tensioned drums patterned after 17th- through 19th-century models. He also performs restorations for National museums. Drums built by Mr. Cornett have been used in films such as "Last of the Mohicans," "The Class of '61," "The Blue and The Grey," "Gods and Generals" and several Smithsonian productions. Turner Broadcasting Company purchased a drum for use in advertisements for the NBA play-offs.
    Mr. Cornett's early exposure to classical music began in Germany, where his father was stationed with the U. S. Army. "It was the only thing on the radio," he recalls. His formal musical studies began with piano lessons from his Cub Scout den mother in Oklahoma, Mrs. Cook. The family relocated to Huntsville when he was eight; he began studying drumming at age 12.