Noted percussionists will conduct clinics and three percussion ensembles will perform concerts Saturday [APRIL 19] during East Central University’s third annual Day of Percussion.
All events are free and open to the public. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. in ECU's University Center and door prizes will be awarded at each session.
John W. Parks IV, an artist, clinician and assistant professor of percussion at Florida State University, will conduct an orchestral percussion clinic from 9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center in the University Center.
Thomas Burritt, a percussion soloist, concert marimbist, clinician and director of percussion studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will conduct a marimba master class from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in the Regents Room in the Memorial Student Union.
During a lunch break at 12:30 p.m., the McAlester High School Steel Band and African Ensemble will perform at the University Center.
Studio/touring drummer Brannen Temple will conduct a drum set clinic from 2 to 3:20 p.m. in the Estep Multimedia Center.
The ECU Percussion Ensemble and the Ada High School Percussion Ensemble will perform in a concert featuring Thomas Burritt and Brannen Temple at 3:30 p.m. in the University Center.
Active in the performance of new music for percussion, Burritt has built a reputation in chamber music, as a percussion soloist and a concert marimbist. He has performed regularly at the Leigh Howard Stevens International Marimba Seminar and was a featured faculty performer at the 2007 Zeltsman Marimba Festival.
In 2004 Burritt performed in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as member of the Hammers and Sticks Ensemble which also released a CD on the Innova label that year. Burritt's first solo CD recording, "All Times Identical - New American Music for Marimba" was released in 2006. As a percussion soloist, he has been active performing percussion concertos. He has recorded for guitarist Eric Johnson and recording artist David Byrne.
He received music degrees from Ithaca College School of Music, Kent State University and Northwestern University.
John Parks is an artist/clinician who has performed with organizations ranging from the Eastman Wind Ensemble on its 2000 tour of Japan and Taiwan and the Schlossfestspiele Orchestra of Heidelberg, Germany, to the Kansas City, Alabama, Key West, and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestras.
He has appeared as a performer/clinician on National Public Radio, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, NACWPI and state MENC conventions in addition to PAS Days of Percussion and guest artist residencies across the United States.
Parks is an active scholar who has published articles in Percussive Notes and the Zildjian Educator. His compact disc, "Dusk: Percussion Music from the Heartland," includes new commissioned percussion ensemble and solo works.
He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University and Furman University.
Brannen Temple, a specialist in drumset, is one of the most sought after drummers in Texas. He plays in the Austin-based bands Blaze and Hot Buttered Rhythm and has performed with numerous artists including Mitch Watkins, Kevin Paige, Ron Brown, Carmen Bradford, Sheena Easton, Alejandro Escovedo, Kenny Wheeler, James Cotton, Chaka Khan, Janet Jackson, Chris Duarte, Robben Ford, Ted Nugent, Eric Johnson, Me'Shell NdegeOcello, Paul Jackson Jr., Ernie Watts, Roy Hargrove, Adam Levy, Big John Patton and Leni Stern.
His discography includes appearances on "Anything But Money" by Patrice Rushen, "Peace Beyond Passion" by Me'Shell NdegeOcello and "G3 Live" by Eric Johnson. He has appeared on The Tonight Show, MTV Spring Break, Austin City Limits and Soultrain.
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