Programs

Students in the MSM Percussion Department study with the entire faculty, in a variety of settings. Weekly private lessons are taught by different teachers each week. Each student’s plan for lessons is worked out at the beginning of the semester. Depending on the individual student’s interest and needs, they may receive more or fewer lessons with a given faculty member that semester. The faculty discusses and communicates about each student and develops a lesson plan to keep track of their overall progress and development.

As part of their private-lesson program, all students will participate in these seminars. These are small group lessons taught by Chris Lamb. Level I, Percussion Skills and Concepts, is for freshman, sophomores, and first-semester graduate students. Level II, Orchestral Repertoire Seminar, is for juniors, seniors, and grad students. Level I will focus on physical movement that allows the percussionist the freedom to continually absorb new techniques required for the growing number of percussion instruments. Emphasis on how technique affects tone production will be made, and speed and control will begin to be observed. In Level II, application of the fundamentals of technique, touch, and tone production will be made to specific orchestral repertoire for all instruments, always keeping in mind the musical directives of the composer. Both classes will include a packet of material designed to guide the student in practicing the topics and ideas presented in the classes.

This is a weekly class for the entire department, taught by the full faculty, as well as guest artists. Topics can include solo performance, orchestral playing, fundamental skills, auditions, non-western styles and techniques, drumset, contemporary performance, and musical theater.  Students are expected to perform regularly in the Lab class, be it a master class, workshop, or solo performance setting. Prof. She-e Wu typically leads 10 classes focused on solo performance. The Fall sessions of these classes culminate in the Marimba Project Concert, which features solo performances by the entire studio. Some years a similar Timpani Concert is held as well. Six classes, led by Rolando Morales-Matos and Wilson Torres, focus on “world drumming” – primarily Afro-Cuban hand drumming.

Recent master classes by visiting artists have included:

• Marc Damoulakis (BM ’99, Cleveland Orchestra)
• Matt Decker (MM ’13, Percussion, Seattle Symphony)
• Jauvon Gilliam (Timpani, National Symphony)
• Stefon Harris (BM ’95, MM ’97, vibraphone)
• Don Liuzzi (Timpanist, Philadelphia Orchestra)
• Vadim Karpinos (BM ’00, Chicago Symphony)
• Joe Kelly (BM ’13, MM ’15, Percussion, Toronto Symphony)
• Marta Klimsara (marimba)
• Parker Lee (Timpanist, Met Opera)
• Sean McDaniel (drumset)
• Anton Mittermayr (Timpanist, Vienna Philharmonic)
• Jay Ritchie (BM ’13, Assistant Timpani/Percussion, Detroit Symphony)
• Steven Schick (Contemporary Percussion Soloist)
• Kendrick Scott (drumset)
• Ed Stephan (Timpanist, San Francisco Symphony)
• Alan Stewart (MM ’11, Percussion, St. Louis Symphony)
• Marcelina Suchocka (BM ’16, MM ’18, Sarasota Orchestra)
• Joe Tompkins (MM ’95, orchestral percussion)
• Shaun Trubiano (BM ’08, MM ’10, PS ’11,  Principal Percussion, Sydney Opera)
• Nick Woud (Timpani, Concertgebouw Orchestra)
• Paul Yancich (Timpani, Cleveland Orchestra)
• Angie Zator Nelson (Percussion, Philadelphia Orchestra)

The Manhattan School of Music Percussion Ensemble was founded in 1957 by Paul Price. The ensemble is designed to help bridge the gap between school and professional life, with special emphasis on achieving advanced playing abilities, a high level of concentration and artistic satisfaction. The ensemble performs classic works of the Percussion Ensemble literature on a regular basis, as well as having a deep commitment to scores written solely for the ensemble. MSM’s Percussion Ensemble is known for its careful attention to detail surrounding the performance of percussion literature of the time. The ensemble holds a critical place in the wide-ranging ideology of the Percussion Department. Percussion students are required to take part in the ensemble’s concerts each year. Here is a list of some of the repertoire performed in recent seasons:

• Pierre Boulez Improvisation sur Mallarmé I & II
• Luciano Berio Circles
• John Cage Third Construction
• Elliott Carter Tintinnabulation
• George Crumb Music for a Summer Evening
• Gérard Grisey Tempus Ex Machina
• David Lang the so-called laws of nature
• Gyorgy Ligeti sippal, dobbal, nadihegeduvel
• Steve Reich Six Marimbas
• Kaija Saariaho Three Rivers
• Toru Takemitsu Rain Tree
• Joan Tower DNA
• Rolf Wallin Stonewave
• Charles Wuorinen Percussion Symphony (collaboration with Juilliard Percussion Ensemble)
• Iannis Xenakis Persaphassa

All students in the percussion department perform with Manhattan School of Music’s orchestras. Placement is determined by auditions at the beginning of each semester. All students also perform with the Percussion Ensemble, and on the Marimba Project concert. Solo recitals are required for 3rd and 4th year undergrads, and both years of a masters degree. Recitals are encouraged for most 1st and 2nd year undergrads. In addition, there are opportunities to perform with the contemporary ensemble Tactus, musical theater productions, jazz department ensembles, mixed chamber ensembles, solo recitals, composers’ concerts, and various ad hoc orchestras and other ensembles.

• Tarun Bellur (PS ’23, Orchestral Percussion) – Principal Percussion, New York City Ballet Orchestra
• Dr. Greg Beyer (MM ’98, DMA ’04, Classical Percussion)–Professor, Northern Illinois University; Arcomusical, Grossman Ensemble
• Andrew Blanco (BM ’04, MM ’06, Orchestral Percussion) – Extra player, Metropolitan Opera Broadway; Broadway, Queens college
• Austin Cantrell (MM ’24, Classical Percussion) – “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band
• David Cossin (BM ’94, Classical Percussion) – Bang on a Can All-Stars, Talujon Percussion Quartet, Tan Dun, Steve Reich, Yo-Yo Ma, Sting; MSM CPP faculty
• Marc Damoulakis (BM ’99, Classical Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Cleveland Orchestra; Faculty, Cleveland Institute of Music
• Matthew Decker (MM ’13, Orchestral Percussion)– Assistant Principal Timpani/Section Percussion, Seattle Symphony
• Ben Fox (BM ’01, MM ’03, Orchestral Percussion) – Percussion/Assistant Timpani, Copenhagen Philharmonic
• Richard Graber (MM ’93, Classical Percussion) – Percussion, Nashville Symphony
• Vern Griffiths (MM ’97, Classical Percussion)– Principal Percussion, Vancouver Symphony; Lecturer, University of British Columbia
• Stefon Harris (BM ’95, Classical Percussion; MM ’97, Jazz Vibraphone)  – Grammy nominated jazz vibraphonist, composer and bandleader; Associate Professor, Rutgers Newark
• Eric Hopkins (MM ’13, Orchestral Percussion)– Associate Principal Timpani/Percussion, Utah Symphony, Utah Opera
• Michael Jarrett (MM ’16, Orchestral Percussion) – Section Percussion, Atlanta Symphony
• Gabriela Jimenez (MM ’94, Classical Percussion) – Timpani/Principal Percussion, Mexico City Philharmonic (retired); faculty, National School of Music, Mexico City
• Vadim Karpinos (BM ’00, Classical Percussion) – Percussion, Assistant Timpani, Chicago Symphony; former faculty, Roosevelt University
• Joe Kelly (BM ’13, MM ’15, Orchestral Percussion) – Assistant Principal Timpani/Section Percussion, Toronto Symphony
• Amir Lavie (MM ’97, Classical Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Israel Opera Orchestra
• Zach Masri (MM ’23, Orchestral Percussion) – Assistant Principal Timpani/Percussion, Vancouver Symphony
• Michael Metzger (BM ’05, Classical Percussion) – Former percussion, U.S. Marine Band
• Aaron McDonald (MM ’00, Orchestral Percussion) – Timpani, Vancouver Symphony; Lake Tahoe Music Festival
• Jason Niehoff (BM ’04, MM ’06, Orchestral Percussion) – Former percussion, U.S. Navy Band; extra player, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony
• Rajesh Prasad (MM ’09, PS ’10, Orchestral Percussion) – Assistant Principal Percussion, North Carolina Symphony
• Matt Prendergast (MM ’08, PS ’09, Orchestral Percussion) – Assistant Principal Percussion, Phoenix Symphony
• Mauro Refosco (MM ’94, Classical Percussion) – David Byrne; Thom Yorke; Forro in the Dark
• Jay Ritchie (BM ’13, Classical Percussion) – Assistant Principal Timpani/Section Percussion, Detroit Symphony
• Kevin Ritenauer (BM ’16, Classical Percussion) – Associate Principal Timpani/Percussion, St. Louis Symphony
• Sean Ritenauer (BM ’07, MM ’09, Orchestral Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Huntsville Symphony; Broadway – Something Rotten, Pippin, Hair, Sweeney Todd; extra player, New York Philharmonic; Asst. Professor Hofstra University
• Alyson Rzeszotarski (BM ’09, MM ’12, Orchestral Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Canton Symphony; Percussion, West Virginia Symphony
• Nick Sakakeeny (BM ’16, Classical Percussion) – Assistant Principal Timpani/Percussion, Fort Worth Symphony
• Madison Shake (MM ’20, Orchestral Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Arkansas Symphony; Percussion, Britt Festival
• Alan Stewart (MM ’11, Orchestral Percussion) – Associate Principal, St. Louis Symphony
• Marcelina Suchocka (BM ’16, MM ’18, Orchestral Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Sarasota Orchestra, Britt Festival; Exelsis Quartet, Pathos Trio, ensemblenewSRQ; Director of Percussion at BUTI (Tanglewood)
• Joe Tompkins (MM ’95, Orchestral Percussion) – Associate Professor, Rutgers University. NY Freelance: extra player, NY Phil, Cleveland Orchestra
• Wilson Torres (MM ’05, Orchestral Percussion) – NY Freelance, Broadway – MJ: The Musical, Les Miz, In the Heights; Artistic staff, MSM
• Shaun Trubiano (BM ’08, MM ’10, PS ’11, Orchestral Percussion) – Principal Percussion, Melbourne Symphony
• Glen Velez (BM ’74, Classical Percussion) – Frame drum soloist; Grammy award winner; Steve Reich, Tan Dun, Paul Winter, Pat Matheny, Suzanne Vega
• Matt Ward (BM ’89, Classical Percussion) – Talujon Quartet, American Modern Ensemble, Argento Chamber Ensemble; Artistic Director, MSM Contemporary Performance Program; Percussion Operations Manager, MSM
• Steven White (MM ’17, Orchestral Percussion)  – Percussion/Assistant Timpani, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Principal Percussion, Classical Tahoe; Faculty, MSM
• David Yoon (MM ’18, Orchestral Percussion) – Associate Principal Percussion, Kansas City Symphony
• Kyle Zerna (BM ’09, Classical Percussion) – Percussion, Assistant Timpani, New York Philharmonic; former faculty, MSM