Last modified: Friday, July 11, 2008
Percussion gurus to convene at IU’s Jacobs School
Wilco drummer joins well-known percussionists for Summer Percussion Workshop
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- For the first time ever, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music's Percussion Department will offer an intensive, five-day summer percussion workshop (July 14-18) featuring clinics, master classes and special performances by IU percussion faculty and internationally acclaimed percussion artists. The workshop includes a number of performances that are free and open to the public.
John Tafoya, Jacobs professor of percussion and director of the IU Summer Percussion Workshop
"When most people think of percussionists, they envision those animated and sometimes mysterious performers who are at the back of the orchestra or wind ensemble," said John Tafoya, a professor of percussion in the Jacobs School of Music and director of the IU Summer Percussion Workshop. "During this week, percussion will be the focus."
More than 50 participants -- who come from all over the United States and Mexico, and whose ages range from 13 to adult -- will have the opportunity to work with world-class artists during the workshop. The impressive lineup of artists includes Glenn Kotche, the drummer for the world-famous rock band Wilco.
"The students will be honing their performance, technical and musical skills as they are exposed to many different styles of percussion performance," said Tafoya.
In addition to daytime sessions, several free evening concerts will be presented throughout the week. Gordon Stout, a marimba virtuoso, teacher and composer, will be featured in a solo recital at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, in Auer Hall. Various guest artists and Jacobs faculty members will be featured on Wednesday, July 16, at 8 p.m. in Auer Hall, including:
- John Tafoya, Jacobs professor of percussion
- Christopher Deviney, principal percussionist with the Philadelphia Orchestra
- Gordon Gottlieb, jazz, rock and world music percussionist
- She-e Wu, virtuoso marimbist and faculty member at Northwestern University
- John Kilkenny, music department faculty member at George Mason University
Additional faculty featured throughout the week will include Jacobs School Professor of Music Steve Houghton and special guest artist Keith Aleo, director of orchestral concert performance with the Florida Philharmonic.
The weeklong event culminates with a grand finale performance at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 18, in Auer Hall. The free, open-to-the-public event will feature all of the participants performing various percussion ensemble repertoire under the direction of John Tafoya and John Kilkenny, with music ranging from Erik Satie to Dan Welcher.
