Student Activity
Spring 2013
Cleveland Orchestra Residency
A Special Thank You to Mr. Paul Yancich and Mr. Jacob Nissly
As part of the 2013 Cleveland Orchestra Residency, IU JSoM percussion students had the opportunity to perform for Mr. Paul Yancich (Principal Timpani) and Mr. Jacob Nissly (Principal Percussion) on Wednesday, January 23. In addition to performing and discussing a variety of topics the Cleveland Orchestra was also featured in a concert that evening featuring Josh Bell (Beethoven: Violin Concerto) and Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique.
Fall 2012
Joseph Schwantner Masterclass
Composer Joseph Schwantner presented a special masterclass on Wednesday, October 24 for the IU Percussion Department. This informative (and fun) class included a performance of his solo marimba work, "Velocities" (with a wonderful performance by DM student Brian Mueller), along with works composed by our percussion students (Sean Gill and Marco Schirripa). Mr. Schwantner also presented information regarding his Second Percussion Concerto - which was performed at PASIC 2011.
Special Thanks to Braham Dembar!
Braham Dembar, Principal Percussionist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, presented an extremely informative (and "hands on") class covering the proper performance techniques for bass drum, triangle, tambourine, and cymbals.
Each year the IU JSOM Percussion Department presents an "opening night" meeting that includes performances by the percussion department faculty (Professors Bobo, Houghton, Spiro and Tafoya). 60 percussion majors attended our opening night meeting on Tuesday, August 21, 2012.
Jacobs School of Music alumnus Michael Mixtacki will be joining the faculty of the Northern Illinois University School of Music for a one-year, full-time appointment as Instructor of Percussion. Michael graduated from IU in 2011 with his Master’s degree in percussion performance. He served as an Associate Instructor in the percussion department and helped co-direct the Afro-Cuban and Brazilian percussion ensembles with Professor Michael Spiro.
IU JSOM student Ross Erickson (BM 2010, MM 2012) has recently been named Principal Percussion with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and Instructor of Percussion at the University of Evansville (Evansville, IN).
Kyle Acuncius (MM 2010) has recently accepted a position as Artist/Instructor of Percussion at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand and Principal Timpanist in the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. The College of Music at Mahidol University is the first music conservatory in Thailand to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in numerous areas of music. The school includes 120 full time and 100 part time faculty with a support staff of 150. There are approximately 1,200 students, including pre-college, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Michael D’Angelo (MM – Jazz Studies 2012) was recently awarded the position of Lecturer in Jazz Studies at the University of North Carolina (Wilmington). D’Angelo will be teaching drum set students, jazz history, ensembles, and a rhythm section techniques course. While at IU, Michael studied with Professor Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, and Kevin Bobo.
Marimba soloists make Final Round at International Percussion Convention
IU students Marco Schirripa and Sean Gill have been selected to perform in the Final Round of the 2012 PASIC International Marimba Competition which will take place in Austin, Texas in November 2012.
