Third Coast Percussion

Third Coast Percussion
File:TCP Press Photo COLOR - Photo by Saverio Truglia.jpg Left to Right: Skidmore, Connors, Dillon, Martin
Background information
Origin	Chicago, Illinois
Genres	Percussion
Years active	2004-present
Labels	Mode Records New Focus Recordings New Amsterdam Records
Members	Sean Connors Robert Dillon Peter Martin David Skidmore
Past members	Owen Clayton Condon Anthony Calabrese Jake Nissly
Website	http://www.thirdcoastpercussion.com

Third Coast Percussion is an American percussion ensemble based in Chicago, USA.

The group, composed of Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore, specializes in new music/contemporary classical music is known for its touring and recording activities that meld the energy of rock music with the precision and nuance of classical chamber works. Third Coast Percussion has become well known for its ground-breaking collaborations across a wide range of disciplines, including concerts and residency projects with engineers at the University of Notre Dame, architects at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, astronomers at the Adler Planetarium, and more. The ensemble enhances the performances it offers with new media, including free iPhone and iPad apps that allow audience members to create their own musical performances and take a deeper look at the music.

Third Coast Percussion has been involved with the commissioning and premiere performances of many new works for percussion, including those by Augusta Read Thomas, Timothy Andres, Glenn Kotche, David T. Little, Marcos Balter, Ted Hearne, and ensemble members Owen Clayton Condon and David Skidmore. The ensemble frequently collaborates with other musicians, ensembles, and organizations including Eighth Blackbird, Signal, the Garth Newel Piano Quartet, Hubbard Street Dance, the International Contemporary Ensemble, pianists Amy Briggs and Lisa Moore, cellists Nicholas Photinos and Tobias Werner, flautist Tim Munro, vocalist Ted Hearne, and video artists Luftwerk.

Third Coast Percussion is the Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. They are the first ensemble at the University of Notre Dame to create a permanent and progressive ensemble residency program at the center. The ensemble performs multiple recitals annually as part of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Presenting Series season. Third Coast Percussion assumed the position of Ensemble-in-Residence at Notre Dame in 2013.

Third Coast Percussion has released albums on the Mode, New Focus, and New Amsterdam record labels. Third Coast Percussion endorses and performs exclusively with Pearl/Adams Musical Instruments, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks and mallets.

History

Early Years

In 2004, original members, Anthony Calabrese, Robert Dillon, Jack Nissly, and David Skidmore were all percussionists with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Aside from their performances with the ensemble, they formed a chamber percussion group that traveled throughout the CPS school system and to colleges to educate and perform. Although not using their signature title, it was from this educational engagement that the group Third Coast Percussion was created. Inspired by the strong percussion ensemble education and experience that they received at Northwestern, the group began working towards creating their own group, slowly setting themselves apart from any ensemble or university, in which they performed strictly chamber percussion music.

The first shows by Third Coast Percussion that were non-educational were performed in the summer of 2005, the first two being performed at Northwestern and the Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston. In the summer of that same year, the group took a slight turn when Jake Nissly left for graduate studies at Juilliard School of music As a result, Peter Martin, a Northwestern percussionist pursuing a doctoral degree, filled the spot in the group. In addition to Nisslys departure, member Anthony Calabrese would move on to concentrate on his school-work at Northwestern. Former Member Owen Clayton Condon, an alumnus from Northwestern and professor at Northeastern, would take Calabreses place. This new and refined quartet (Condon, Dillon, Martin and Skidmore) would be the core group that would take the ensemble to the success that it has achieved.

Rehearsing during the night at Northwestern and Northeastern for a brief time, the group began tackling what they would want achieve as an ensemble. The unique concept of their repertoire was something that the group developed early on, influenced a series of restraints. A large factor, which played into the ensembles choice of music, was their limited performance space. As a young group, many of their gigs that they were able to book, such as the empty bottle, were small venues with a limited amount of space to perform. This would put a restriction on the amount of instruments and the type of repertoire performed by the group. These restrictions were instrumental in the selection process of the music that Third Coast performed, as well as the development of the group’s style.

On February 12th, 2006, TCP played at the Neo Futurarium, a gig that turned out to break open the doors for the group. It was at this performance that they met Ethelbert Williams, now board member of TCP. Mr. Williams, an expert in marketing, was a member of the audience at this concert. Impressed with the ensembles performance, Mr. Williams decided to invite TCP to work with him. Ethelbert Williams was an essential in helping to create a presentable package for the group that they could promote to the music world and publicizing their music on a broader scale.

Outreach

Third Coast Percussion has created strong ties to the community through their inspiring performances, as well as their commitment to education. Originally the purpose for TCP, the group continually makes musical outreach a very important part of their being, working in conjunction with many fine programs to help instill a sense of community wherever they perform. Third Coast has partnered with such groups as the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago’s MUSIcorps, University of Chicago Presents, Urban Gateways, and Rush Hour Concerts. They also give numerous clinics and outreach activities given both in Chicago and on tour.

Urban Gateways

Third Coast Percussion actively performs within the CPS school system through the Urban Gateways program. The Urban Gateways program delivers high quality education from leading professionals in the visual, technological and musical arts to the k-12 grades in Chicago. Their goal is to provide a well-rounded education for kids, to engage students in learning and to increase critical thinking. Third Coast has worked with this group for many years, providing master classes on the art of percussion to kids of all ages through performance of their repertoire and discussion. Their unique program offers a fun, hands on and interactive experience as they learn of the percussion world.

Back of The Yards

As part of their work with the Rush Hour Concert series in Chicago, Third Coast Percussion along with Sonos de Mexico, Axiom brass and Spektral Quartet, help provide joy and high quality education within lower resourced communities such as East Garfield Park and the Back of the Yards. Through this musical collaboration, Third Coast Percussion seeks to engage the students in the study of Classical music, while also enriching the communities own musical traditions. Third Coast Percussion and the Back of the Yards marimba band perform for each other, which not only acts as an engaging study for the young students, but serves as important lessons for the group as well.

Notre Dame and the ndWaves Project

As a part of TCPs work with their residency at Notre Damne, the group has initiated a project known as the NDwaves Project, in which the group along with WILCO drummer Glen Kotche and Engineering students from Notre Dame collaborate in order to create a strong connection between the arts and the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math). As an interactive program for students located in the South bend area of (where), the NDwaves project hopes to instill how music is connected through the science of sound. Interactive workshops, which include coloring and drawing, basic physic of sound classes taught by Notre Damne students and even specially made electronic percussion instruments for the kids to play on, are all used to make learning the STEM subjects more enjoyable and relatable by connecting them to music.

Repertoire

Original Music

Fractalia (2011)-Condon

Common Patterns in Uncommon Time (2011)-Skidmore

Fanfare for a New Audience (2009)-Skidmore

In Contact (2006)-Skidmore

Double Helix (2005)-Condon

Quadruple Helix (2005)-Condon

Ritual Music (2004)-Skidmore

Echoes (2003)-Skidmore

Works Commissioned

Deep Carving: Aaron Travers (2006)

Resounding Earth: Augusta Read Thomas (2012)

Fanfare for a New Audience: David Skidmore (2009)

Haunt of Last Nightfall: David T. Little (2010)

Lost Compass: Anthony Pateras (2010)

Like A Sick, Breathing Tambura: Andrew McKenna Lee (2006)

We’ve Gotta Find It: Derek Jacoby (2006)

Thaw: Ted Hearne (2009)

Constellations: Kirsten Broberg (2008)

Percussion Quartet: Matthew Barnson (2006)

Percussion Quartet:Mark Berger (2006)

Austerity Measures:Timothy Andres (2013)

Discography

Ritual Music (2008)

John Cage- The Works for Percussion, vol. 2 (2012)

Resounding Earth (2013)

Haunt of Last NightFall (2014) Unknown Symmetry (2013)

External links

• thirdcoastpercussion.com
• Facebook Page
• Myspace Page
• Vic Firth Artist Page
• Pearl Drum Artist Page
• Videos on YouTube
• Media on Metafields