August 2009
NIU PERCUSSION AT PASIC 2009
The NIU percussion area will be incredibly well-represented at this year's Percussive Arts Society International Convention, November 11-14 in Indianapolis. NIU percussion faculty member Greg Beyer is the host and organizer of Focus Day (Wednesday, November 11), with a theme of "The Global Economy." During Focus Day Greg will perform with the NIU Percussion Ensemble. Also on Focus Day, NIU percussion alum Allen Otte will perform with Percussion Group Cincinnati. On Thursday, The NIU Percussion Ensemble will appear in concert under the direction of NIU percussion professors Robert Chappell and Greg Beyer. This appearance is due to the NIU Percussion Ensemble being a winner of the prestigious Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition. Thursday evening's concert features the Ju Percussion Group from Taipei, Taiwan, and JPG features NIU percussion alum Pei-Ching Wu as their soloist. Rich Holly, the NIU Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, is a member of the PAS Board of Directors and the Council of Past Presidents, and will have several planning meetings to attend throughout the entire convention. In addition, on Thursday afternoon he'll be a member of the panel discussion "Leveraging Skills for New Opportunities." On Friday, NIU percussion alum Andy Bliss will present a lecture on his latest research findings, "The Percussion Music of David Lang." On Saturday, NIU percussion alum Pat Schleker will present a timpani clinic, and (unfortunately at the same time!) NIU percussion alum James Campbell will present a snare drum clinic.
July 2009
NIU PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE WINS PRESTIGIOUS COMPETITION
The NIU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of professors Robert Chappell and Greg Beyer, are winners of the 2009 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition. This is the second time the NIU Percussion Ensemble has entered the competition, with wins both times! As part of the honor of winning, the Percussion Ensemble will appear at PASIC 2009 in Indianapolis (November 11-14), with a concert spot on Thursday morning, November 12. Congratulations to Robert, Greg and all the students!
May 2009
CLIFF ALEXIS WINS NIU OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD
Cliff Alexis, Co-Director of the NIU Steel Band, has been awarded NIU's highest honor for Operating Staff employees, the Outstanding Service Award. A member of the NIU percussion staff since 1986, Cliff has received many honors over the years, including the Trinidad and Tobago Folk Arts Institute Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Steelband Festival, and is a member of the Sunshine Hall of Fame, along with additional honors from PanTrinbago and the government of Trinidad and Tobago. Congratulations, Cliff!
April 2009
NIU PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE INVITED TO INTERNATIONAL
PERCUSSION FESTIVAL IN COSTA RICA
Members of the NIU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of professors Robert Chappell and Greg Beyer, have been invited to perform at the first International Festival of Percussion in San José, Costa Rica, May 28-20, 2009. Ensembles from Poland, Venezuela, Costa Rica and the United States have been invited. All will perform a concert in the beautiful Teatro Nacional in San José as well as run-out concerts in other cities and a joint concert of all ensembles.
March 2009
NIU PERCUSSION FACULTY MEMBER NAMED DEAN OF
THE NIU COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
Rich Holly, an NIU percussion faculty member since 1983, has been named the Dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts. You can read the official press release here.
February 2009
NIU PERCUSSION MAJOR WINS AWARD
AT NATIONAL COMPETITION
Ben Runkel, senior percussion major at Northern Illinois University, was one of 6 finalists in the Minnesota Orchestra Young Artists Competition. Ben will be one of only two finalists whose prize includes a concerto performance with an orchestra. During the 2009-2010 season, Ben will perform with the St. Paul Civic Orchestra. For the competition, Ben performed "Veni, Veni, Emanuel" by James MacMillan. On the composer's website, there is a video of Ben performing this work with the NIU Philharmonic! Congratulations, Ben!
February 2009
RICH HOLLY'S NEW BOOK RELEASED
Rich Holly, longtime NIU Percussion Professor and currently the Acting Dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, has a new book just released: "Majoring In Music - All the Stuff You Need to Know." The book is published by Meredith Music Publications with sole international distribution by the Hal Leonard Corporation.
The book is divided into three sections: The Academic Stuff, The Musical Stuff, and The Life Stuff. Within these sections are headings with information and tips about time management, studying, advising, practicing, music theory, music history, aural skills, positive attitude, health, personal relations and several other such topics that are pertinent to every music major's eventual success.
The book is under world-wide release and is available at Amazon, Tower, Target, Borders, Barnes and Noble, and several other booksellers. Check it out today!
August 2008
NIU PERCUSSION AT PASIC 2008
The NIU Percussion department was once again very well represented at this year's PASIC, which was held November 5-8 in Austin, Texas. Former NIU percussion student Pete Zimmer and his group were featured in one of the late night sessions, and alum Jeannine Remy directed a large group of Trinidadian students in a performance of "The Rainmakers." Alum Allen Otte performed on Wednesday, November 5, as part of Focus Day, and alum James Campbell and his percussion ensemble from the University of Kentucky also performed during the convention. NIU Percussion Professor Greg Beyer appeared in concert on Focus Day with his duo Due East, and NIU Acting Dean and Percussion Professor Rich Holly made several presentations at the Friday night banquet.
August 2008
Greg Beyer Performance Reviewed in New York Times
In its August 1st edition, the New York Times has a nice review of a concert that featured NIU Percussion Professor Greg Beyer. You can read it here. Congratulations, Greg!
June 2008
Rich Holly named Acting Dean
Long time NIU percussion faculty member Rich Holly has been named Acting Dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts, effective July 1, 2008. Rich has served in many administrative roles at NIU since 1995, most recently as the Associate Dean of the college. In his new role, Rich will work with our 180 faculty and staff, be responsible for budget and fundraising, and lead the college through the strategic planning process and implementation.
Fall 2007
NIU PERCUSSION AT PASIC 2007
Once again, the NIU Percussion area was very well represented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Columbus, Ohio. Here’s a rundown: Wednesday, October 31, at 10:00, NIU Percussion Alums the Base4 Quartet performed, featuring alum Patrick Schleker as soloist. Thursday, November 1 at 10:00, Rich Holly was a panelist for the topic “How to Build a Powerhouse Percussion Program.” Also at that time, NIU Percussion Alum Jim Campbell directed his percussion ensemble from the
Summer 2007
NIU Percussion area faculty members were busy in the summer of 2007! Here are a few of the noteworthy appearances we made:
Robert Chappell was on leave the spring semester 2007 and spent much of the time in
Robert continued as Program Director of the Birch Creek Music Center Percussion/Steelpan session July 2 to July 15 in
In August, Liam Teague, virtuoso steelpannist and Director of Steelpan Studies at NIU and Robert traveled to
A number of new works will be premiered at PASIC in
Greg Beyer spent the better part of August in
In addition to these performance and educational activities, Beyer also worked in
Cliff Alexis was a guest on the campuses of the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford (CT), and the University of Akron (OH). Cliff was also instrumental in the development of a new “G” pan recently, a collaborative effort between Cliff and builders in
Rodrigo Villanueva was really busy! From May 31 to June 2, he performed with The Edgar Dorantes Jazz Trio in
From July 23 to August 3, Rodrigo served a 2-week residency at the only jazz school in
In June Rich Holly appeared on a
Fall 2006 Percussion Events Calendar
Monday, September 18, Guest Jazz Drum Set Artist Wynard Harper
Wednesday, September 20, Guest Percussionist/Drummer Dan Weiss, 8 p.m., The House
Thursday, September 21, Bismarck Fernandez, guest percussion recital, 8 p.m., Recital Hall
Sunday, October 15, Greg Beyer, soloist with NIU Wind Symphony, 3 p.m., Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
Monday, November 27, Percussion Ensemble, Robert Chappell & Greg Beyer, directors, 8 p.m.,
Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. Special Guests, Arica West Trio.
Tuesday, November 28, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Greg Beyer, director, 8 p.m., Boutell Memorial
Concert Hall. Special Guests, Africa West Trio.
Check back frequently as more events are always being added!
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November 2006: PASIC '06 Featuring NIU
The Percussion Program at NIU again had excellent exposure at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (www.pasic.org) this year, which was held November 8 – 11 in
October 2006 - CLIFF ALEXIS RECEIVES ANOTHER AWARD!
Congratulations to Cliff Alexis on receiving the 2006 Arts-In-Education Award from the Cultural Academy for Excellence, Inc. which is in partnership with the Prince George County (Maryland) Office of the County Executive and the Office of Community Relations.
August 2006 - Rich Holly featured in NPR article
NIU percussion faculty member Rich Holly was interviewed by National Public Radio for an article about drum circles. You can read the article on the NPR website here.
June 2006 - NIU Composers win contest!
NIU percussion faculty member Robert Chappell took first place in the 2006 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest! The winning composition is entitled "Open Window" and is scored for a duo of steel pan and marimba. The piece was premiered at NIU in 2005, and will be performed at PASIC 2006 in Austin, Texas in November. ALSO - NIU percussion alum Ben Wahlund's composition "Four Sketches for Sam" took 3rd place in the PAS Composition Contest. Congratulations to Robert and Ben!
June 2006
NIU percussion alums Andy Bliss and Erin Walker were married on June 3rd - Congratulations to both of them! They are both now graduate students at the University of Kentucky. Having just completed his MM there, Andy will begin his DMA program in the fall of 2006, and Erin will complete her DMA as well as begin a Ph.D. program in Musicology there. Both are students of another NIU alum, Jim Campbell.
June 2006
NIU percussion alums Dave O'Fallon and Paul Ross performed in concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this month as featured steel pan players on Pierre Boulez's "Notations" conducted by Daniel Barenboim as a part of his farewell residency in Chicago.
April 2006
NIU percussion alum Patrick Schleker won the audition to be the new Timpanist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Congratulations, Pat!
NIU Steel Band performed in concert with the Chicago Sinfonietta on March 12. Check out the great review from the Chicago Tribune here!
February 2006
NIU Steel Band directors and members continue to have a strong impact on the world of pan. At this year's Panorama in Trinidad, in the Small Band category, NIU alum and current grad student Seion Gomez was the arranger for the champion band The Merrytones - Congratulations, Seion! In addition, NIU faculty members Cliff Alexis and Liam Teague were arrangers for groups in the Large Band category. Liam was the arranger for the Skiffle Bunch, who finished in 7th place, and Cliff was the arranger for Our Boys, who made it to the Semi-finals but not the finals (unfortunately, the director of Our Boys passed away a week before the competition). Congratulations to Liam and Cliff! Several NIU steel pan majors made the trip to Trinidad to perform in this year's competition.
November 2005
NIU Percussion area was again well-represented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, held in
March 2005
NIU Percussion undergraduate student Kerry O'Brien has been awarded one of NIU's prestigious "USOAR" grants for undergraduate research and artistry. During the summer of 2005 Kerry will travel to Austria to study manuscripts and writings of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as they relate to the music he composed for sacred music while living in Salzburg. Congratulations, Kerry!
January 2005
NIU Percussion faculty member Rich Holly became President of the Percussive Arts Society, the world's largest total-percussion professional organization with nearly 8,500 members in 75 chapters world-wide.
November 2004
NIU Percussion graduate assistant Brandon Estes has been appointed drum line caption head for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps of LaCrosse, Wisconsin - Congratulations, Brandon! For more information, visit the press release here.
November 2004
The NIU Percussion area was again well-represented at this year’s Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), held in
ALSO AT PASIC: NIU Percussion alum Patrick Schleker won the timpani mock audition - Congratulations, Pat!!
October 2004
This fall NIU percussion faculty member Rich Holly is featured in the national ad campaign of Latin Percussion (LP). The ad, “I mold passion into musicians,” has been in several national and international music magazines such as Percussive Notes, SBO (School Band and Orchestra) Magazine, American Music Teacher, etc. Additionally, Rich is a “Featured Artist” on the Innovative Percussion website (www.innovativepercussion.com) where you can also read his article “What’s Your Plan?”
May 2004
NIU Percussion Area Welcomes New Faculty Member Greg Beyer
The NIU Percussion area is pleased to announce the hiring of Greg Beyer, who begins here as a faculty member with the fall 2004 semester. Greg earned his degrees in percussion performance from Lawrence University and the Manhattan School of Music. Living in New York City for many years now, Greg has performed (among others) with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Speculum Musicae. He is an active drumset performer in New York, having appeared with artists such as David Berkeley and Tyler Gibbons. The 2nd place winner of the 2002 Geneva International Music Competition, Greg has conducted a great deal of research toward his project O Berimbau, which involves ethnomusicological research on the berimbau and other related musical bows, and the active composition and commision of new works for this ancient instrument. Greg has made presentations and performances at many major music institutions and festivals, including 3 recent Percussive Arts Society International Conventions.
May 2004
NIU Percussion Area to say good-bye to Orlando Cotto
NIU Percussion professor Orlando Cotto, who has taught here since 2001, has decided to return to the East Coast to primarily pursue a performing career. Orlando brought his unique perspective on marimba performance and literature to our program, and was a strong addition to our world music faculty with his great knowledge and long list of professional appearances as an expert in Afro-Cuban music. Orlando founded the NIU Latin Jazz Ensemble, which performed to a full house with multiple encores and standing ovations in January 2004 at the Illinois Music Educators Convention. We wish Orlando and his wife Yvonne the very best as they move back to the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
April 2004
The Winfield (IL) Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Bob Siemienkowicz (BA 1985) has been selected to present a clinic/demonstration at the 2004 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The presentation is entitled "Premium Blend - Middle School Percussion Curriculum Utilizing Western and Non-Western Pedagogy." Congratulations to Bob and his students!
March 2004
Faculty and graduates of the NIU percussion/steel band program continue to have a major impact on the pan world. Panorama, the annual steel band competition in Trinidad and Tobago, has concluded and the following NIU people were greatly involved:
° NIU Steel Band co-director Liam Teague arranged the calypso for TCL Group Skiffle Bunch from his hometown of San Fernando. They placed 5th in the finals. Congratulations Liam!
° NIU alum Seion Gomez arranged for Scunters Pan Groove (a single pan band) and they were in the finals for this category Saturday, February 14.
° NIU alum Harold Hedley is on the faculty of the University of the West Indies and arranges for a single pan band that was in 2nd place going into the finals.
° NIU alum Wayne Bruno is on the UWI faculty and is also the director of Rapid Response, one of the top calypso bands in Trinidad and Tobago.
° NIU Alum Jeannine Remy was recently appointed Associate Professor of UWI where she is teaching ethnomusicology and steelpan arranging. For Panorama she arranged for the Petrotrin Hatters and placed 11th in the semi-finals.
February 2004: Current percussion major Alex Collins was one of 28 recipients campus-wide to receive NIU's elite USOAR grants (Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Artistry and Research). Alex will use his grant to study tabla and north Indian music at the Ali Akbar School of Music in San Rafael, California during the summer of 2004. Congratulations Alex!!
The percussion area from NIU was (once again!) very well represented at PASIC 2003 in Louisville, KY, November 19-22. On Wednesday, November 22, NIU alum Wiley “Arnold” Sykes III performed in concert with the Philidor Percussion Group. On Friday, November 21, “Panoramic,” a group featuring NIU percussion faculty Liam Teague, Robert Chappell and Orlando Cotto, as well as current NIU percussion student Phil Beale, appeared in concert. On Saturday, the Base4 Percussion Quartet from NIU (see related story above) appeared in concert (as winners of the 2003 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition) and received a standing ovation. Also on Saturday, NIU percussion alum Dean Gronemeier presented a FUNdamentals clinic on snare drum. And finally, alum Jim Campbell is the immediate past president of PAS and still serves on the PAS Executive Committee, and Rich Holly is PAS President-Elect. Both Jim and Rich made several speeches at the Hall of Fame banquet on Friday night.
NIU Percussion Quartet wins 2003 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition!
Announced in late June 2003, the Base4 Percussion Quartet from NIU won this year’s PAS competition. The quartet consists of graduate student Steve Lundin (NY), and seniors Andy Bliss (IL), John Pobojewski (MI), and Patrick Schleker (IL). The selections they submitted for the competition were “Ogoun Badagris” by Christopher Rouse, “The Persistence of Past Chemistries” by Charles Griffin, David Hollinden’s “The Whole Toy Laid Down,” and a Traditional Amadinda (Ugandan xylophone) and drumming selection. As a result of their winning the competition, the Base4 Quartet will be performing at PASIC 2003 in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, November 22. For more information about PASIC 2003 click here.
Junior percussion major Matt Janes was the front ensemble arranger and caption head for the Marion Glory Cadets, DCI division III corps, during the 2003 season. The corps received the bronze medal for their finals performance, as well as high percussion. Matt now has a Vic Firth education endorsement!!
Jim Yakas, who completed his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance here at NIU in 2002, was Drum Line Caption Head for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. A native of Michigan, Jim received his B.M. from the University of North Texas and has been working as a member of the Madison Scouts drum line staff for several years. Jim has completed a one-year appointment for the 2002-2003 school year to head the percussion program at the University of Central Florida (a sabbatical replacement for UCF professor Jeff Moore). Beginning the fall semester 2003, Jim is an instructor in the School of Music of the University of Minnesota where he directs the Steel Band.
Al O’Connor Retires
After 35 wonderful years of teaching and service to NIU, Al O’Connor has decided to fully retire. Although Al retired from his position as Associate Dean of NIU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts in 2000, he continued as co-director (along with Cliff Alexis) of the NIU Steel Band. Effective summer 2003, Al is fully retiring.
Al joined the NIU faculty in 1968 as head of percussion studies. During his tenure in that position he began the NIU Steel Band in 1973 – the country’s first university steel band. Over the years Al was instrumental in helping many other colleges, universities, and public schools develop their own steel band programs. It was also Al’s vision to hire the famed Blackearth Percussion Group as faculty in the 1970’s. In 1983 Al began his first administrative position as Assistant Chair of the NIU School of Music, and in 1989 became the Associate Dean of our College of Visual and Performing Arts. Throughout those administrative posts Al continued to direct the Steel Band.
Al’s presence will be sorely missed. We wish him the best of luck in his retirement.
Please visit the following links to learn more news about the NIU Steel Band:
Teague, Alexis ready to lead NIU Steel Band
Alexis strives to help homeland from humble NIU Panyard
NIU senior percussion major Patrick Schleker has been appointed Timpanist of the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for the 2002-2003 season. Pat was also a mock audition winner at this summer’s Cloyd Duff Timpani Masterclass. Congratulations, Pat!!
JUST IN: Pat auditioned in February 2003 to once again be Timpanist of the Chicago Civic Orchestra (for the 2003-2004 season) and won the audition again! Way to go, Pat!!
AND MORE! June 2003: Pat attended the 2003 Cloyd Duff Timpani Seminar and studied with Jim Atwood, Tom Freer, and Tim Adams. While there, Pat was the premiere winner of the mock audition. Congratulations!
March 2003: Percussion Professor Robert Chappell has been awarded NIU's highest teaching honor, the title Presidential Teaching Professor. For the years 2003-2007 Robert will hold this title, and after that his title will be Distinguished Teaching Professor. Robert will receive a very generous grant for use in his teaching as well as one semester of release time toward the end of his four-year term. Congratulations Robert!!
February 2003: Current percussion major Linda Orlandi was one of 33 recipients campus-wide to receive NIU's elite USOAR grants (Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Artistry and Research). Linda will use her grant to study percussion and culture in Havana, Cuba during the summer of 2003. Congratulations Linda!!
Alum Garry Kvistad recently joined the percussion group NEXUS. According to NEXUS founding member Russell Hartenberger, "Garry has been a long-time friend of NEXUS. He has appeared with NEXUS at various times over the years as a guest. It is a very natural transition for him now to be a regular member of the group."
This also means that the two most recognizable percussion ensembles in North America (NEXUS and Percussion Group – Cincinnati) include members who are NIU percussion alumni.
The May 2002 issue of Modern Drummer magazine honors 13 colleges and universities as having the best programs for drumset study, and NIU is included in that select group of schools.
Cliff Alexis receives international honor - click here for the story!
NIU Steel Band places 2nd in 2000 World Steelband Festival
The NIU Steel Band, under the direction of Al O'Connor and Cliff Alexis, succeeded in winning second place in the finals of the 2000 World Steelband Festival held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Saturday, October 21, 2000. Their final score was 551.5 points out of 600. The TCL Skiffle Bunch band from Trinidad took first place with a score of 576.5. NIU pulled out all of the stops for the finals - Cliff Alexis wrote new music for his calypso all night the night before and NIU Research Scholar Liam Teague played a solo - which has never been done before. NIU competed with bands from Trinidad & Tobago, Finland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Grenada, and USA.
This event is important historically in that 1) Never before has a foreign (non-Trinidad/Tobago) band even gotten to the finals of the WSF, 2) Never before has a foreign band been a challenge to a Trinidad/Tobago band, and 3) Wood-N-Steel (NIU Faculty member Robert Chappell composition) and Pan 2000 (Cliff Alexis composition) were considered innovations to this competition.