On June 12, 2011, the writer performed a graduate percussion recital, presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music in percussion performance. Four of the five compositions are connected through use of Latin American rhythmic and melodic themes. This project investigates how the composers included Latin American themes into the selected compositions. By understanding the original Latin American themes utilized in these pieces, the performer attempted to adequately convey the intentions of the composer. This research also shows a number of ways that Latin American themes can be incorporated into percussion music. The last piece, Excerpt Etude for Snare Drum, by Matthew Beck, was primarily added to the recital for its use of thirty-one orchestral snare drum excerpts that are found on many audition excerpt lists. This project investigated the ways in which Beck integrated these excerpts into one piece of music, while maintaining the original tempi of each excerpt through multiple complex metric modulations which are highly useful for the professional musician preparing for orchestral auditions.