So much is happening right now! I want to write about my Swedish Christmas, New Years, my new Italian percussion student, Ensemble Evolution's plans, my new duo with Jake, plans for the summer (HOME!!), but right now tons of my energy is being put into our Percussion Repertoire Festival that's happening in March!
Logistics wise, things are going really well with the festival. We have a list of great confirmed guest artists and students, and anticipate a lot of attendees from the community. Today we met with a great team of media students that will make the concert posters, festival booklet, badges, etc...Arvid made the poster ad that's above, but we can't ask him to do everything! We are still working out some of the technical assistance that will be needed, along with some additional community sponsors, but I think we're in a really good place!
Here is more info about the festival:
The Piteå Percussion Repertoire Festival was conceived by world-renowned percussionist Anders Åstrand and will be administered by Ensemble Evolution. It will be hosted at the Piteå Institution for Music and Media and Studio Acusticum
With this festival we will
- unite creative musicians
- share ideas for composition, performance and artistic expression
- cross cultural boundaries
- meet new and like-minded colleagues
- enjoy our art and build relationships
The festival will include workshops, performances and educational sessions throughout each day by Anders Åstrand (Stockholm, Sweden), Maria Finkelmeier (Ohio, USA), Charles Martin (Canberra, Australia), Jacob Remington (Texas, USA), and select participants from around the world. Along with these interactive sessions, the schedule will include four high-energy evening concerts. Musicians, students and educators will be invited to attend the sessions and all concerts will be open to the public (at cost). Musichögskolan students can attend the sessions free of charge with an ID.
As of January 25, 2011 the list of performers and participants includes:
- Morris Palter and Ensemble 64.8 from Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
- Daniel Berg from Götenberg, Sweden
- Harri Lehtinen from Tampere, Finland
- Toni Hietala from Pori, Finland
- Johan Svitzer from Copenhagen, Denmark
- Daniel Saur from Piteå, Sweden
- Chi-Hsia Lai from Taichung, Taiwan
- Casey Cangelosi from West Virginia, USA
Subjects that will be covered by these individuals range from:
- How to interpret and rediscover traditional percussion works
- Percussion music and chamber music in a contemporary setting
- Higher education: A discussion of curriculum, perspective and advancement.
- The role of a publishing house in a performer’s career
- Multi-Media performance techniques
- Composition for percussion instruments
- Improvisation and creating your own musical voice
Evening Concert Schedule
Wednesday, March 16: The Arctic Connection
Ensemble Evolution and Ensemble 64.8 (from Fairbanks, Alaska) welcome guests to Piteå to kickoff an exciting festival of percussive sounds!
Thursday, March 17: Sweden’s “Slagverk” Showcase
Anders Åstrand, Rolf Landberg and Daniel Saur (Global Percussion Network) meet Daniel Berg and Fredrik Duvling (Rhythm Art Duo) for an evening showcase’s Swedish most exciting percussion stars!
Friday, March 18: International Soloists take the Stage
Witness how captivating one musician can be as diverse percussion music is performed by personalities from around the world.
Saturday, March 19: Smorgasbord of International Percussionists
The closing concert of the Piteå Percussion Repertoire Festival will
feature the festival participants after 4 days of enlightenment and inspiration.
