2008 Woodie Awards
Walking to the beat of their own drum
Sacred Heart home to Conn. Day of Percussion
Lauren Tilton
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: A & E
Big Red. He motivates the crowd to cheer at several sporting events. He shows off his dance skills with the dance team at basketball games. Adding to his list of talents, Big Red learned how to drum this past weekend from some of the finest percussionists from around the world.
On Saturday Big Red made an appearance at The Percussive Arts Society's "Connecticut Day of Percussion" which was held on campus and hosted with help from the Sacred Heart University Pioneer Band Program. It brought together internationally renowned performers, local students and college musicians to learn about percussion performance techniques.
"It was great to see Big Red come and show support for this event," said sophomore Ryan Cordova.
PAS is the world's largest organization dedicated to the education, appreciation, and performance of percussion, bringing together percussionists from around the world.
"The chapter hosts the 'Day of Percussion' at a different location every year and we thought that Sacred Heart had great facilities," said Tim Holcomb, assistant director of bands at Sacred Heart and vice president of the Connecticut chapter of PAS. "It was a good opportunity to bring to local percussionists onto our campus."
"Jim Royle [president of the Conn. chapter of PAS] and Tim spent a lot of time arranging for the artists, and coordinating all of the details, and I think the results speak for themselves," said Keith Johnston, director of bands. "They both deserve a lot of credit for all of their hard work and I'm really grateful to them and to our own band students for helping out during the event."
Famous percussionists, including Shawn Pelton, the drummer for the Saturday Night Live band, filled the day with several performances and clinics. Chris Hanning, a recording artist for NFL films, also taught a clinic on calypso drumming.
"You know we always see these guys on TV, or hear them in bands, but to be able to meet them and interact is really something," said Johnston.
On Saturday Big Red made an appearance at The Percussive Arts Society's "Connecticut Day of Percussion" which was held on campus and hosted with help from the Sacred Heart University Pioneer Band Program. It brought together internationally renowned performers, local students and college musicians to learn about percussion performance techniques.
"It was great to see Big Red come and show support for this event," said sophomore Ryan Cordova.
PAS is the world's largest organization dedicated to the education, appreciation, and performance of percussion, bringing together percussionists from around the world.
"The chapter hosts the 'Day of Percussion' at a different location every year and we thought that Sacred Heart had great facilities," said Tim Holcomb, assistant director of bands at Sacred Heart and vice president of the Connecticut chapter of PAS. "It was a good opportunity to bring to local percussionists onto our campus."
"Jim Royle [president of the Conn. chapter of PAS] and Tim spent a lot of time arranging for the artists, and coordinating all of the details, and I think the results speak for themselves," said Keith Johnston, director of bands. "They both deserve a lot of credit for all of their hard work and I'm really grateful to them and to our own band students for helping out during the event."
Famous percussionists, including Shawn Pelton, the drummer for the Saturday Night Live band, filled the day with several performances and clinics. Chris Hanning, a recording artist for NFL films, also taught a clinic on calypso drumming.
"You know we always see these guys on TV, or hear them in bands, but to be able to meet them and interact is really something," said Johnston.
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