World Premiere Tour: Stuart Saunders Smith
to premiere Spring 2020
While in Florida for the 2019 MMF I had the wonderful opportunity to catch up with Stuart. It had been almost five years since we had seen each other, lastly at his home in Vermont where I had spent time studying composition and performance with him. I was thrilled when I arrived back home after the festival to find a voicemail from Stuart: he's asked me to premiere his evening-length work, cross.
I am writing this post shortly after receiving the score, and the excitement is tantalizing! I cannot wait to start performing the work and am currently scheduling a Spring 2020 tour.
For any inquiry about the tour, please -> contact me.
Guest Artist: Chadron State College
March 14, 2019
I will be visiting Dr. Rick Puzzo and his students at CSC for a day of master classes and teaching, followed by a recital in the evening. And this is a recital that has been years in the making! I finally get the opportunity to partner with the incredibly insightful and artistic Ivana Munćan for a piano + percussion program. We will be playing works by K. Puts, J. Cage, R. Honstein, and C. Cerrone.
Videos to be posted soon...
Educational Outreach Concert
February 14, 2019
What better way to celebrate V-Day than by sharing the music that I cherish with high school students!? I am teaming up with the Colorado Team for repeat performances of our MMF chamber set, including G. Ligeti's humorously ironic Hungarian Rock and P. Manoury's notorious Duo de Marimbas, followed by a presentation on West African Drumming. Happy Valentine's Day!
Guest Artist: 2019 McCormick Marimba Festival
January 25-27, 2019
MMF is always an incredible festival! It remains one of the few places where you can see performances of music by Ivan Trevino, Stuart Saunders Smith, and Philippe Manoury back-to-back without batting an eye. The diversity and depth of study that this festival promotes is a rarity, and I am very excited to be back for TWO performances!
I will be performing a solo set of works by Bruno Mantovani and Fritz Hauser, followed by a chamber set with the Colorado Team of Mike Truesdell and Sean Goldman. Works by L. Andriessen, G. Ligeti, J. Sommerfeldt, J.S. Bach, and P. Manoury.
New Commissioned Work: Von Hansen
January 1, 2019
I first met Von while living in Wichita, KS. Von had just started working as the percussion professor at Friends University, and I was finishing up my time with the Wichita Symphony and Wichita Grand Opera. It was a shame we did not have more time together in KS, but I was thrilled when I heard about Von's new work for vibes + electronics. Matthew Lau spearheaded the consortium, and we are all looking forward to what Von is cooking up for us!
If you have not seen Von's creativity at work before, check this out -> Suite for Prepared Vibraphone.
CD Reviews: All in One
Very thrilled to see David's album getting some much-deserved love, I get a few shout-outs along with my percussion buddies from Jazz Weekly. Click here to read the review by -> George W. Harris. and here another review by -> Jack Bowers
Michael Gordon's TIMBER
November 2, 2018
Six players. Six pieces of wood. Sixty minutes. A surprising recipe for what turns out to be an intoxicating and evocative sound world that enraptures the curious and unsuspecting listener. (Admittingly, I was also curious and unsuspecting at first!). I join UNCOPE for this one-time performance at the Atlas Theatre.
Here is an excerpt of the work -> TIMBER performed by -> MANTRA Percussion
CD Release: All in One
October 1, 2018
I was thrilled to join David Caffey and the extraordinary jazz band he assembled for his latest CD -> All in One: David Caffey Jazz Orchestra. David's CD marks his retirement as Professor of Jazz Composition and Pedagogy at University of Northern Colorado, and it is a mix a newly composed works and older favorites.
You can hear me playing marimba on -> Carnival Night, a Carnival Festival inspired tune.
Off the Hook Arts Festival
July 8, 2018
I am excited to be performing John Luther Adams' Inuksuit for the opening day of the 2018 SummerFest concert series in Fort Collins this summer. It is my third time performing the work, and each time my experience with the piece has changed significantly.
Flavours of France: a Solo Recital
April 30, 2018
I spent much of 2017/2018 learning new pieces; pieces that had always interested me and posed questions I was unable to answers simply by listening. This recital was my attempt at finding some of these answers and, in a few cases, finding more questions! One thing that became clear: check out -> Laurent Durupt's work if you have not yet!
Highlights from the program include the acoustic explorations of Philippe Manoury's computerized compositional style in -> Solo de Vibraphone, the explosive and hazy Short Stories by Martin Matalon, and the strangely dense / petite String of Pearls by David Lang.
The program consists of works by L. Durupts, I. Xenakis, M. Matalon, F. Hauser, P. Manoury, and D. Lang.
CD Release: Places & Times
February 1, 2018
I'm honored to be heard on this CD of compositions by Baljinder Sekhon, performing with the McCormick Percussion Group. Places & Times features the stunning playing of Dieter Hennings, Eunmi Ko, Line Upon Line Percussion and the grammy-winning Los Angles Percussion Quartet.
Seminal Works for Chamber Percussion
January 3-8, 2018
I am joining forces with former colleagues from the Wichita Symphony Orchestra on a recording project in Greeley, Colorado. The project will include concerts and studio recordings of Toru Takemitsu's Rain Tree; Fritz Hauser's As we are speaking; and Steve Reich's Mallet Quartet.
Click here for a video of Takemitsu's -> Rain Tree. FYI: Andy was getting creative with the camera :)
Guest Artist: Early College Academy
December 8, 2017
I am very excited to share "Meet the Vibraphone", an out-reach program of electro-acoustic works for solo vibraphone. The program features works by Steven Snowden and Grant Fonda. I will be performing this 50-minute program three times for ~ 150 high school students!
Steve Reich's DRUMMING
November 3, 2017
Performing with UNCOPE for Steve Reich's seminal work for percussion ensemble. Join us at Atlas Theatre for this feature length work.
CD Release: luminous machine
June 28, 2017
I am happy to share that the album luminous machine has been completed! An album of compositions by composer Nathaniel Bartlett, I am featured performing multiple solo works, and one [apical topography] was a work written for me. You can hear samples of the works on my video page, or purchase the album on bandcamp. For more about Nathaniel's work, check out his website!
Colorado Music Festival
Summer 2017
This summer I'll be joining the festival for Holst's The Planets, Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy, Steve Hackman's Musical Mash-Ups, Time for Three, and a premiere of a new work by composer Julian Wachner.
Guest Artist Recital: University of Tampa
January 25, 2017
Presenting of program of works for marimba, vibraphone, and solo performer, including the world premiere of Grant Fonda's vibraphone solo the five stages of grief.
Newly Commissioned Work: the five stages of grief
World premiere scheduled for January 2017
I am excited to announce that I will be premiering a -> new work for vibraphone, written by Grant Fonda. Grant is an incredible composer that I've known for years and currently splits his time between working on commission and composing for various TV and film productions. He has worked on films such as Spectre, Bridge of Spies, and Minions.
You can find more about of Grant's work -> here.
Guest Artist Recital: 2017 McCormick's Marimba Festival
January 27 & 28, 2017
Guest Artist Recital on Saturday January 28 @ 11:40. Marimba/vibraphone works by -> Philippe Hurel, -> Bruno Mantovani, Mark Applebaum, and Grant Fonda.
2016 TROMP International Percussion Competition
November 14-28, 2016
I am very excited to be 1 of 30 selected from the prescreened audition to travel to Holland this November and participate in the TROMP International Percussion Competition. This biannual competition will host percussionists from 11 different countries as we make our way through 4 rounds of music-making.
TROMP has commissioned composers Robin da Raaf and Glenn Kotche, whose works will be premiered in the semi and final rounds of the competition. Along with preparing these works, my repertoire will include works by Mark Applebaum, Philippe Hurel, Dolf de Kinkelder, Bruno Mantovani, Steven Snowden, and Iannis Xenakis.
Guest Artist Recital: University of Northern Colorado
October 11, 2016
Presenting a program of solo works to the percussion studio at UNC. Big thanks to Dr. Mike Truesdell for having me.
Guest Artist Recital: Colorado State University
October 5, 2016
Presenting a program of solo works to the percussion studio at CSU. Big thanks to Dr. Eric Hollenbeck for having me.
Aspen Music Festival & Bravo! Vail
August 6 & 7, 2016
I will be joining Colorado percussionists as we gather to perform John Luther Adam's immersive work at Aspen Music Festival and Bravo! Vail Summer Festival, in two of Colorado's most beautiful mountain towns.
Colorado Music Festival
Summer 2016
I will be joining the incredible percussion section at CMF for a number of shows this summer. Highlights from the season include Essa-Pekka Salonen's Violin Concerto, Symphonie Fantastique, Mahler's Das Lied, and Pictures at an Exhibition.
Oben und Unten
March 4, 2016
An evening of music, featuring works by James Tenney, Mark Applebaum, and Karlheinz Stockhausen's rarely performed theatrical work "Oben und Unten" @ WSU's SHIFTSPACE Gallery.
Koch Cultural Trust Grant Award
December 1, 2015
Awarded $3,000 to assist with instrument purchases to outfit my home studio.
Recording Session: luminous machine
November 14, 2015
Back to New Mexico for another recording session with composer Nathaniel Bartlett. Recording the title track for upcoming CD, Luminous Machine.
Wichita State University Solo Recital
November 6, 2015
Program includes works by Nathaniel Bartlett, Bruno Mantovani, Philippe Hurel, James Tenney, and Iannis Xenakis.
Santa Fe/Albuquerque Tour + Recording Session
June 3-6, 2015
Recording and performing my commissioned solo apical topography for the upcoming CD with composer Nathaniel Bartlett, Luminous Machine. Info on the concerts can be found under the EVENTS tab here.
Carnegie Hall Performance
May 10, 2015
Carnegie debut in Weill Recital Hall with my violin + marimba duo, Duo Synaesthetic. We were awarded 2nd Prize at the 2015 American Protégé International Competition and will be performing on the Winners Recital at 7:30pm.
Koch Cultural Trust Grant Award
February 1, 2015
Awarded $2,500 to support my upcoming recording and tour this summer with composer Nathaniel Bartlett in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Celtic Woman
December 19, 2014
Performing with Celtic Woman for a stop on their Holiday Tour at the Kansas Star Arena.
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
August 2014
Moved to Wichita, KS to begin my two year service as percussionist with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.
Indigo Girls
January 14, 2014
Performing with Indigo Girls at the Kravis Center in West Palm, Florida.