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PERCUSSION & STEELPAN ACADEMY SESSION
JULY 5 - JULY 17, 2010
| 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
The Percussion & Steelpan program 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, students learn 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.
All students 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. Students also perform in Percussion and Mallet ensembles, and participate in classes in world percussion, drum set, theory, and computers & MIDI.
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AREAS OF STUDY
Percussion & Steelpan Students:
- Mallet Percussion – Two & four mallet marimba, xylophone, jazz vibes
- Orchestral Percussion – Snare drum, timpani, and accessory instruments
- 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
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| Liam Teague, center, performs with the Birch Creek Steel Band while his hand movements are projected onto a screen, left, for the audience to see via the "Pan Cam". |
For detailed admissions information, including AUDITION TAPE REQUIREMENTS, go to Student Admissions
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FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES
2010 Faculty is listed below and subject to change. (2009 Faculty is pictured.)
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.
Kevin Connelley (Drum Set) , Skokie, Ill. Mr. Connelley received a bachelor's degree in percussion performance at Northwestern University and began playing professionally at the age of twenty. Mr. Connelley has performed in a wide variety of media, including television, radio and album recordings. He is regarded as one of the finest players and teachers in the Chicago area. He maintains a busy schedule as a performer and teacher.
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.
Geraldo de Oliveira (Ensembles), Chicago, Ill. A native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, moved to the United States in 1975, having already established himself as a prominent percussionist and bandleader. He continued to develop his skills, studying at the American Conservatory of Music under Birch Creek co-founder, James Dutton. Mr. de Oliveira has recorded and/or produced with numerous major Chicago artists, and has impressive performance credentials. Currently, Mr. de Oliveira is a percussion instructor at the Music Institute of Chicago, one of Ravinia’s Jazz Mentors, percussion instructor for Ravinia’s Illumination Program, and performer/instructor for the "University of Chicago Presents” program. He is also a freelance sound engineer/producer and the owner of Cathedral Recording.
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.
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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