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PERCUSSION & STEELPAN ACADEMY SESSION
SUMMER 2008 SESSION DATES:
JULY 7 - JULY 19
| Program Director: Robert Chappell |
(Head of Percussion Studies, Northern Illinois University School of Music, and Presidential Teaching Professor, DeKalb, IL)
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| Steel Band Director: Al O'Connor |
(Associate Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts [retired], Northern Illinois University, DeKalb IL) |
| Artist-in-Residence: Liam Teague |
(Assistant Professor of Music, Northern Illinois University, and Co-Director of the Northern Illinois University Steel Band, DeKalb, IL) |
ABOUT THE PERCUSSION & STEELPAN PROGRAM
Birch Creek offers two areas of emphasis for percussionists and steelpannists.
The Percussion Emphasis is considered to be one of the most comprehensive summer education experiences for the young percussionist/drummer. Through hands-on experience in performance, small-group instruction, and master classes, the Percussion Emphasis provides an excellent working knowledge of all the instruments and styles essential for today's percussionist. The Birch Creek program provides an environment not found on large lecture-style campuses. Our small size and busy concert schedule challenge each student, whatever his or her level, to learn and perform at a pace found on the professional music scene.
The Steelpan Emphasis is for young musicians (tenor though bass pans) who wish to improve their steelpan performance through technique classes, study of the history and culture of steelpan, composition and arranging for pan, and performance in the Birch Creek Steel Bands and world percussion ensembles. Steelpan students also participate in classes with Percussion students in world percussion, drum set, theory, and computers & MIDI.
All students, Percussion and Steelpan, perform in the Birch Creek Steel Bands, World Drumming Ensembles from Brazil, Cuba, and Africa, and theater pieces, á la Blue Man Group and Stomp, Percussion Emphasis students also perform in Percussion and Mallet ensembles, and Steelpan Emphasis students perform in small pan ensembles.
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AREAS OF STUDY
Percussion Emphasis Students:
- Mallet Percussion – Two & four mallet marimba, xylophone, jazz vibes
- Orchestral Percussion – Snare drum, timpani, and accessory instruments
Steelpan Emphasis Students:
- Steelpan techniques on all instruments
- Pan History and culture
- Writing and arranging for the steel band
Both Percussion and Steelpan Emphasis Students:
- World Percussion - Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, African, East Indian
- Drum Set – Jazz, rock, Latin and Caribbean styles
- Music Theory – written and aural
- Computers and MIDI – the use of computers for composition, publishing, recording, editing and learning through educational software
For detailed admissions information, including AUDITION TAPE REQUIREMENTS, go to Student Admissions
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FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES
2008 Faculty is listed below and subject to change.
 Robert Chappell (Program Director), DeKalb, IL. Mr. Chappell is professor of music and head of percussion studies at Northern Illinois University, where he was recently honored with the University's highest teaching honor, the Presidential Teaching Professorship Award. Mr. Chappell has toured and recorded with the Paul Winter Consort and his own world-jazz group, Rhythmic Union. He is also an active composer and since 1998 has been performing with steelpan artist Liam Teague.
G. Allan O'Connor (Steel Band Director), DeKalb, IL. Mr. O'Connor, who has been at Birch Creek for 22 years, is retired director of Northern Illinois University's world-class steel band, and founded Birch Creek's steelpan program. He is active as a percussion soloist, conductor, and composer, and the retired Associate Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Northern Illinois University.
Liam Teague (Steelpan/Artist-In-Residence), DeKalb, IL. Mr. Teague has performed as a featured steelpan soloist throughout the world, and is currently on the faculty at Northern Illinois University. He is also a composer, performs with Birch Creek Program Director Robert Chappell, and has numerous CDs to his credit.
Elizabeth DeLamater (Orchestral, Mallets, Ensembles), Tempe, AZ. Ms. DeLamater directs the PanDevils Steelbands at Arizona State University, where she is also a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion. Ms. DeLamater recently returned from her third research trip to Trinidad and Tobago, and was a member of the 2005 National Champion Panorama Steelband Phase II Pan Groove. She currently freelances in orchestral percussion and steelpan in the Phoenix area.
Jeff Stitely (Drum Set) , Chicago, IL. Mr. Stitely performs with the Jeff Stitely Orchestra, the Bobby Lewis Quintet, Fulcrumpoint, and the Revolution Ensemble. He also teaches privately.
Vern Spevak (Drum Set), Yorkville, IL. Mr. Spevak is the owner and director of a private percussion school in Oswego, IL which specializes in small class group instruction. He is also an instructor and clinician for many school percussion programs throughout the Fox Valley area. Mr. Spevak performs regularly with his church music ministry.
Brad Stirtz (Jazz Mallets), Naperville, IL. Mr. Stirtz attended Birch Creek as a student in 1978 and 1979, and joined the faculty in 1980. He is Director of Music at Peace Lutheran Church.
Dan Moore (Jazz Mallets), Iowa City, IA. Dr. Moore performs as a soloist and with the Britain/Moore Duo. He is professor of music and percussion area head at the University of Iowa.
Vicki Peterson Jenks (Ensembles), Wild Rose, WI. Ms. Jenks has just retired as owner and operator the largest private percussion studio in Wisconsin (Madison) and is Percussion Program Ensemble Director with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. She is Artist Clinician for Yamaha Band & Orchestral Division and Sabian Cymbals and endorses Vic Firth Sticks and Mike Balter Mallets.
Jim Royle (Ensembles), Bridgeport, CT. Mr. Royle is a private percussion instructor operating Royal Drum Studio in Bridgeport, CT, and is the drummer for the New England Jazz Ensemble big band. He attended the University of Bridgeport and studied percussion under Howard Zwickler, Arthur Lipner, and Bill Finegan. Jim is president of the Connecticut chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and was 2000 Chapter President of the Year. He has several CDs to his credit.
Orlando Cotto (World Percussion, Week 1), Catonsville, MD. Mr. Cotto performs frequently as a solo artist in the Washington DC area. His most recent recording is Wild Hands. Mr. Cotto is a Yamaha performing artist and endorses LP Percussion and Pro Mark Sticks.
Dane Richeson (World Percussion), Appleton, WI. Mr. Richeson is currently associate professor of music at Lawrence University in Appleton, where he is director of percussion studies. Mr. Richeson's performances have been with such diverse artists as Lukas Foss, Bobby Mcferrin, Gunther Schuller, Joe Lovano, Lionel Hampton, Dianne Reeves, Roscoe Mitchell, Claudio Roditi, Medeski-Martin -Woods, Eddie Daniels, Marc Johnson, Jackie Allen, Kenny Wheeler and Uri Caine. He regularly performs with the chamber ensembles CUBE (Chicago) and The Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society (Madison, WI).
Ben Wahlund (Ensembles), Aurora, IL. Mr. Wahlund is currently teaching at Black Dog Music Studio, Naperville Central High School, and Waubonsie Valley High School where he is the percussion specialist. He recently graduated from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, with a Masters Degree in music theory and composition and a performance certificate in percussion. Mr. Wahlund is endorsed by Vic Firth Sticks & Mallets.
Suzanne Satterfield (Orchestral & Keyboard Percussion - on leave of absence), DeKalb, IL. Ms. Satterfield performs with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and the Salt Creek Ballet. She teaches at the Kaneland Music School and also as a private percussion teacher.
Tim Rush (Steelpan, World Percussion), Elkhorn, WI. Mr. Rush performs with Caribbean Eclipse and freelances in southeast Wisconsin. He teaches privately in the Milwaukee area and is affiliated with the Drum Instructors' Guild of Milwaukee. He was recently named co-director of CALYPSO, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra's new Steel Band program.
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