Download The Percussion Ensemble

The Department of Music presents
The Percussion Ensemble
Rick Dior, director
Legacy
Quartet for 4 Snare Drums
Jared Spears
Kevin Bobo
Jacob Bohan, Daniel Ferreira, Nick Francis, Chris Merida
Alpha Bravo Niner
Drew Morri
The Percussion Techniques class:
Kevin Butler, Jackson Cini, Will Cochran, Taylor Kennedy, Riley Kirwan,
Elizabeth Lanier, Alina Polkhovskaia, MariJane Sutton
Ceiling Full of Stars
Blake Tyson
Portico
Tom Gauger
Anne R. Belk Theater
Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts
Monday, April 17, 2017 | 7:30 pm
arts.uncc.edu
Program Notes
Composed in 2003, Legacy is an exciting overture for eight percussionists.
The composition opens articulating the primary musical materials with a
battery of finger cymbals, maracas, triangle, tom toms, temple blocks and
timpani. Soon the mallet instruments are brought into the collaboration.
After much dialogue, the first section comes to a close with final comments
between the marimba and vibraphone. The second section begins with the
snare drum presenting a rhythmic ostinato featuring a pattern of accents that
will be repeated and varied throughout the ensemble and the remainder of
the piece. After several presentations of this ostinato, melodic material from
the first section returns albeit superimposed below and above. Interrupted
temporarily by a high energy quasi cadenza for timpani, bass drum and tom
toms the work continues to its forceful and ultimate conclusion.
Steeped in the rudimental snare drum tradition, Kevin Bobo’s Quartet for Four
Snare Drums is a technical showcase that features solo improvisations by all four
performers. Several visual aspects also contribute to this exciting composition
which takes full advantage of many of the sounds a snare drum can create.
Ceiling Full of Stars is described by composer Blake Tyson as “a journey through
space as seen through the eyes of a small child”. He goes on to describe these
feelings; “There is a sense of wonder and amazement. There are struggles to break
free of unseen forces and there are moments of weightlessness. A sense of speed
simmers beneath a slowly moving surface, depicting the awe-inspiring infinity of
space”. The composition is scored entirely for mallet percussion and several triangles
which create a shimmering introduction to an unusually beautiful piece of music.
Portico was composed by Tom Gauger in 1983 for the University of Oklahoma
Percussion Ensemble. The composition features a full array of the standard
symphonic percussion instruments as well as four marimbas and two
vibraphones. Containing several thematic elements and a large development
section, the piece could be described as a symphony for percussion. There
are many musical tempo shifts and lyrical rubato sections throughout which
put the full musical capabilities of a percussion ensemble on display.
Ensemble Personnel
Jacob Bohan
Megan Elmore
Daniel Ferreira
Nick Francis
Brandon Hawkins
Dallas Holder
Charles Mashburn
Chris Merida
Raven Pfeiffer
Colin Ray
Director
Rick Dior is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he studied
with renowned timpanist Fred Hinger and jazz composer Bob Mintzer.
He also studied extensively with famed jazz drummer Joe Morello. Rick
has performed as a percussionist with some of the biggest names in the
music industry including James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles,
Bobby Mcferrin, and Marvin Hamlish. He has added his drum set talents
to performances with many great jazz artists including Marvin Stamm, Bill
Watrous, Clark Terry, Red Rodney, Chris Potter and Lionel Hampton. Some
of these performances have taken place with the Charlotte Symphony
Orchestra, which he has performed with since 1990. Rick’s recording credits
are extensive and include movie soundtracks, CD releases and commercial
radio and television spots. As a first call percussionist in Charlotte Rick has
performed in dozens of Broadway show tours. Some of the most recent are
Wicked, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Hairspray, South
Pacific, West Side Story and Mary Poppins.
As a recording engineer and producer Rick has been involved in hundreds
of projects, many of which are currently available on CD and Video. He
has worked with several outstanding artists including Harry Connick Jr.,
Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Cyrus Chesnut, Michael Spiro and
Ed Thigpen. You can see a partial list of his award winning recordings as
a performer and engineer online at ArtistDirect.com. Rick has also been
involved in several high profile live recordings including projects for NPR,
ESPN, The Charlotte Symphony and Opera Carolina.
In addition to teaching full time at UNC Charlotte, Rick also maintains an
active private teaching studio. His students have gone on to attend many
prestigious music institutions including The Julliard School of Music, The
Manhattan School of Music, The Eastman School of Music, North Texas
State University, the Oberlin School of Music and The University of Miami.
Many of these students are active as professional musicians and educators.
As a composer Rick has written many compositions and arrangements for
Jazz and Latin ensembles as well as for the Charlotte Symphony the UNC
Charlotte Percussion Ensemble and the Charlotte Symphony Percussion
Ensemble. He is the author of several percussion books and DVD’s
including the acclaimed Advanced Coordination for Drum Set and Hand
Percussion which is part of the percussion curriculum at Indiana University,
Utah State University, The University of South Carolina and North Texas
State University. His compositions and books are published by Tapspace.
College of Arts + Architecture
Upcoming Events
APRIL
Jazz Ensemble
Thu Apr 20 | 7:30 pm
Opera Workshop: La Bohème
Fri Apr 21 | 7:30 pm
Sun Apr 23 | 4:30 pm
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UNC Charlotte Center City
Spring Festival
Sat Apr 22 | 3:30 pm
2D/3D BFA Exhibition
Mon Apr 24 | 5-7 pm
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Tue Apr 25 | 7:30 pm
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Wed Apr 26 | 7:30 pm
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Anne R. Belk Theater
Anne R. Belk Theater
Thu Apr 27 | 7:30 pm
Chamber Orchestra
Anne R. Belk Theater
CoA+A Performing Arts Services
Dean Adams, Associate Dean for Performing Arts Services
Christopher Buess, Lecturer, Production Manager
Beverly Lueke, Performing Arts Operations Manager
Liz Paradis, Audience Services Manager
Beth Rucker, Business Services Coordinator
Rachel Engstrom, Lecturer, Costume Shop Manager and Costume Designer
Matthew Fraiser, Lecturer, Technical Director
Hali Hutchison, Costume Lab Cutter / Draper
Rick Moll, Lecturer, Master Electrician
Gordon W. Olson, Lecturer, Lighting Designer
Benjamin G. Stickels, Lecturer, Sound Engineer and Asst. Production Manager
Rachel Watkins, Lecturer, Stage Management
Robinson Hall Technicians
Andrew Baker, Kaylene Bryan, Hannah Coleman, Jonathan Harden,
Devon Hardison, Theodore “TJ” Maynor, Joseph Sanders, Noah Tepper
coaa.uncc.edu