UTRGV Percussion Ensemble - TMEA Media Guide

Percussion Ensemble

Friday, Feb. 10th

Showcase Concert

TMEA - CC Bridge Hall 3:30pm-4:00pm

Percussion Ensemble

Showcase Program

PROGRAM Percussion Ensemble

TMEA 2023 Showcase

Dr. Mark Ramírez and Dr. Marco Schirripa, Directors

Peter Ney, Graduate Assistant

Friday. February 10, 3:30 PM

CC Bridge Hall, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

San Antonio, TX

Program: “Music of the Rio Grande Valley”

Breakout RGV (2023)

Marco Schirripa (b. 1989) Brownsville, TX

*world premiere*

Percussion Ensemble, 10 players

Available through C. Alan Publications

chain maille (2015)

Monica Pearce (b. 1984) Brownsville, TX

Percussion Quartet

Available through Canadian Music Center

Ajuste de Cuentas (2023)

Mark Joseph Ramírez (b. 1973) McAllen/Brownsville, TX

*world premiere*

Percussion Quartet

Available through the composer

Tour de Force (2023)

Mathew Campbell (b. 1992) San Benito, TX

*world premiere*

Percussion Ensemble, 12 players

Available through C. Alan Publications

NOTES

Breakout RGV (2023)

Breakout RGV is a reimagining of a previous work of mine entitled Breaking Out, from 2019, utilizing the same thematic material, but with a new approach to orchestration and a higher level of virtuosity required from the players. On the surface, the title references the piece’s form, which begins subdued and gradually sees pockets of excitement and groove break through until a climactic ending. The concept of “breaking out” carries deeper meaning within this piece, however, also referencing the “breaking out” of the UTRGV Percussion Ensemble and their opportunity to showcase their hard work and unique repertoire on a bigger stage. - MJS

NOTES

NOTES

Ajuste de Cuentas (2023),

by Mark Joseph Ramírez

While there are multiple translations for this expression, the impetus for this programmatic title is centered around its meaning as a reckoning. The influences on the creation of this work is one-part confrontations in life and one-part biblical apocalypse.

A reckoning is a calculating of one's position within a situation. Not meant simply to pass judgement, but to bring about accountability and resolution.

1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

— Revelation 6:1–2

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

— Revelation 6:4

5... I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

Revelation 6:5

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

— Revelation 6:8

Tour de Force (2023, by Mathew Campbell

I’ve been focusing on writing a lot of music with a dedicated architecture in recent years. Tour de Force is not that kind of piece. It is an orchestrated piano improvisation that is haphazard, jarring, and abrasive at times. Through writing this piece, I learned that these structures that I’ve written so long have started to permeate my improvisations even when trying to avoid them. Perhaps my mind is trying to constantly reinvent the framing of these -isms so that they come out in fresh new ways every time. This has taken on the form of episodes throughout the piece, all of which reflect a softer and subdued start to a new musical process. These episodes are followed by bombastic sections of resonant metals and pounding drums. This battle of contrasting sections exists through the entire eight minute duration of the piece. Nearing the end of the work, the episodic material starts to coalesce with the bombastic material to create an impressive, albeit entirely superficial ending. This piece, at its most fundamental level, music with no substance or narrative composed for the mere sake of sounding sophisticated.

Tour de Force turned out to be not only a piece that requires elegant technique and musicality but also a relentless mental exercise of ensemble awareness, timing, and endurance. My biggest goal was to compose a piece that would contribute to the percussion ensemble repertoire, and to create one so bold that it would truly live up to its name. Tour de Force was commissioned by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Percussion Ensemble for their 2023 Texas Music Educators Association Showcase Performance.

BIO

Originally from Syracuse, New York, Marco Schirripa holds Bachelor’s degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Theory from Ithaca College, along with Master and Doctor of Music degrees in Percussion from Indiana University, where he was awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate during his first year of study. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Schirripa has performed on international stages, including the U.S. Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, Zeltsman Marimba Festival, the North American Conference on Video Game Music, and several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. He was named a finalist in the 2012 Percussive Arts Society International Marimba Competition and took first place in both the 2013 Great Plains and 2014 Southern California International Marimba Competitions. In addition to his university appointment, Marco maintains an active schedule as a percussion soloist, clinician,

chamber musician.

e r o l e o f s t a g e p r e s e n c e a n d e x t r a m u s i c a l g e s t u r e i n c o n c e r t p e r f o r m a n c e H e i s c u r r e n t l y a m e m b e r o f t h e H e a r t l a n d M a r i m b a Q u a r t e t , a g r o u p d e d i c a t e d t o t h e c r e a t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e o f n e w c h a m b e r r e p e r t o i r e f o r k e y b o a r d p e r c u s s i o n .

T o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t M a r c o S c h i r r i p a , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w . m a r c o s c h i r r i p a . c o m

BIO

Monica Pearce is a Canadian composer specializing in opera, chamber music and everything toy-pianorelated. She was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada, began her professional career in Toronto, and recently relocated to Brownsville, Texas after a couple of years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pearce’s work has been performed and commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, International Contemporary Ensemble, New Music Detroit, Array Ensemble, Talisker Players, Essential Opera, Bicycle Opera Project, TorQ Percussion Quartet, junctQín keyboard collective, and Thin Edge New Music Collective, among others. Her operas have been performed across Canada and the United States, and toured across Ontario, and her toy piano works are frequently played internationally. She is working on her debut album, a multi-work piece entitled "Textile Fantasies". She won the Harry Freedman Award for her harpsichord work toile de jouy, commissioned by Wesley Shen with support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Most recently, she was nominated for the East Coast Music Association's Classical Composer of the Year

Monica co-founded the emerging composer collective the Toy Piano Composers in 2008 with Chris Thornborrow. From 2008 to 2018, the Toy Piano Composers presented over 120 new works and released their debut album Toy Piano Composers. She is also active as a librettist and has worked with composer Cecilia Livingston on a Dora-nominated opera on the life of Anne Frank entitled Singing Only Softly. Monica’s written works have been performed by Loose Tea Theatre, Musique 3 Femmes, Bicycle Opera Project, Opera Nova Scotia, Vocalypse Productions, Caution Tape Sound Collective, and the Toy Piano Composers.

To learn more about Monica Pearce, visit http://www.monicapearce.com

BIO

Mark Joseph Ramírez is Professor of Percussion and Area Coordinator at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Associate Director of the School of Music, and is the Founder and Executive Director of the International Percussion Institute.

As an artist, Mark has performed and collaborated under the direction of some of the leading musical authorities in the field of composition, including Pulitzer Prize-winning composers John Corigliano, David Del Tredici and William Bolcom and Prix de Rome recipient Kevin Puts. He has performed with internationally acclaimed jazz and classical artists Ernie Watts, Eddie Daniels, Greg Abate, Jeff Jarvis, Dick Oats, Steve Wiest, Gordon Stout, Phil Smith, and performed as a guest Soloist with the Rio Grande Valley Symphony Orchestra. As a scholar, Dr. Mark Joseph Ramírez has received invitations to present and perform at the International Conference on Caribbean Studies, the Southwestern Conference on Latin American Studies, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.

As the Founder and Executive Director of the International Percussion Institute (IPI), Mark served as a Resident Faculty at the International Percussion Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland; and given performances at the at King's College Chapel in Aberdeen, Scotland. Mark has also been the recipient of a Faculty Fellowship from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, a Faculty Fellowship for Student Academic Success from University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and the Kerspit Gent (X, Y)honor Artist in Residency Fellowship awarded by the Kerspit Foundation Dr Mark Joseph Ramírez is a native of Brownsville, Texas.

To learn more about Mark Ramírez, visit https://www.exploreipi.org

Percussion

BIO

Mathew “Mat” Aaron Campbell (b. 1992) started his musical journey at the age of eight when he took piano lessons followed by informal lessons on how to play drum set His studies continued through middle school and high school with percussion as his primary instrument

Mathew is originally from the La Hermosa barrio in San Benito, a small town found in the Rio Grande Valley in Deep South Texas. Much of the population in this region is underprivileged and Mathew’s family was no exception After learning how to make the most of limited resources, he has turned to using his unique, speechimpedimented voice to uplift the work of other underrepresented Latinx artists and collaborators from the Rio Grande Valley.

He is an alumnus of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where he earned his BM in Education as well as studied percussion and composition with Dr. Joe Moore III. Campbell graduated with High Honors from Oklahoma City University earning a double MM in Music Composition and Wind Conducting under the tutelage of Dr. Edward Knight and Dr. Matthew Mailman, respectively. He is a proud member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Society - Alpha Upsilon Chapter

As an award-winning composer, Mat has collaborated with various educators and musicians throughout the nation. His passion for composing and conducting led to conducting world premieres with various student ensembles at the state and national levels. He has conducted his works at The National Flute Convention, ClarinetFest, and the Texas Music Educator’s Conference. His music has been celebrated by conductors and ensembles at various events in Los Angeles, Austin, Oklahoma City, the National Conference of Percussion Pedagogy, New Music on the Bayou, and at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

To learn more about Mathew Campbell, visit https://www.matcampbell.com

PERSONNEL

Fernando Alday – Hidalgo, TX

Melani Blanco – San Benito, TX

Kathleen Camero – Tacoma, WA

Juan Duenes – Brownsville, TX

Eli Honorato – Weslaco, TX

Patricio Martinez – McAllen, TX

Peter Ney (Graduate Assistant) – Dundee, Scotland

Noemi Sosa – La Joya, TX

Rene Peynado III – Weslaco, TX

Samuel de los Rios – Kansas City, KS

Jose Salinas III – Hidalgo, TX

Jose Tijerina – Edinburg, TX

Armando Vasquez – Brownsville, TX

Rene Zamora – Mission, TX

FACULTY

Marco

Dr. Mark Ramírez, Professor of Percussion, Area Coordinator – Brownsville, TX

Dr. Marco Schirripa, Assistant Professor of Percussion – Syracuse, NY

Guerra, adjunct instructor – McAllen, TX

Percussion Studio 2022-2023

U T R G V S o M

P e r c u s s i o n S t u d i e s

Dr. Mark Joseph Ramírez Professor of Percussion

Area Coordinator

Dr. Marco Schirripa Assistant Professor of Percussion Peter Ney Graduate Assistant

Mauricio Castellano Consultant

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y S c h o o l o f M u s i c i s t h e c u l t u r a l l e a d e r o f t h e R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y . A s t h e s e c o n d l a r g e s t H i s p a n i c - s e r v i n g i n s t i t u t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y i s c o m m i t t e d t o e d u c a t i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l s w h o a r e c u l t u r a l l y f l u e n t a n d h a v e d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p e r s p e c t i v e s , l a n g u a g e s , a n d v a l u e s o f p e o p l e f r o m d i f f e r e n t b a c k g r o u n d s W e p r o v i d e c r e a t i v e a n d i n n o v a t i v e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e w o r l d a n d e n c o u r a g i n g n e w w a y s o f t h i n k i n g a b o u t m u s i c r e s e a r c h , p e r f o r m a n c e , a n d e d u c a t i o n . T h e S c h o o l o f M u s i c i s h o m e t o o v e r 5 0 0 m u s i c s t u d e n t s a n d 5 8 f a c u l t y . O u r f a c u l t y a n d s t u d e n t s a r e e n g a g i n g i n r e s e a r c h , c r e a t i v e w o r k s , p e r f o r m i n g , a n d c o m p e t i n g a t n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l o c a t i o n s i n E u r o p e , M e x i c o , C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h A m e r i c a , t h e

C a r i b b e a n , a n d a c r o s s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . W h e n y o u

b e c o m e a p a r t o f t h e U T R G V S c h o o l o f M u s i c c o m m u n i t y , y o u w i l l o p e n t h e d o o r s t o i n c r e d i b l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s , e x p o n e n t i a l g r o w t h , a n d i n v a l u a b l e p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d p e r s o n a l f r i e n d s h i p s .

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E n s e m b l e , M a r i m b a E n s e m b l e , A f r o - C u b a n E n s e m b l e ,

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I n d o o r W i n d s a n d P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e .

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c o m p o s e r s s u c h a s T o r u T a k e m i t s u , M i n o r u M i k i ,

A m a d e o R o l d a n , J o h n C a g e , L o u H a r r i s o n , E d g a r d

V a r e s e , K a r l h e i n z S t o c k h a u s e n , S t e v e R e i c h , D a v e H o l l i n d e n , I r w i n B a z e l o n , D a v i d G i l l i n g h a m , E m m a n u e l S é j o u r n é , A l e j a n d r o V i ñ a o , N e y R o s a u r o , G o r d o n S t o u t , N e b o j s a N i v k o v i c , M i c h a e l B u r r i t t ,

C a s e y C a n g e l o s i , M a r k F o r d , I v a n T r e v i n o , a n d M a r k

R a m i r e z . U T R G V P e r c u s s i o n i s a c t i v e i n t h e

c o m m u n i t y , r e g u l a r l y p e r f o r m i n g M e x i c a n m a r i m b a a n d d r u m l i n e m u s i c f o r l o c a l a n d r e g i o n a l e v e n t s . T h

P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e h a s b e e n a c c e p t e d t o p e r f o r m a s e v e r a l T e x a s M u s i c E d u c a t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n C l i n i c / C o n v e n t i o n s a n d h a s b e e n a c t i v e i n c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h c o m p o s e r s a n d t h e c o m m i s s i o n i n g a n d p r e m i e r i n g o f n e w w o r k s . T h e P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e s h a r e s t h e s e v a l u e s a n d s t r i v e s t o u p l i f t t h e a r e a i t s e r v e s . S i n c e 2 0 2 1 , t h e U T R G V P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e h a s g i v e n t h e T e x a s p r e m i e r e s o f s i x w o r k s a n d i n M a r c h 2 0 2 3 w i l l g o o n t o u r w i t h a c o n c e r t f e a t u r i n g m u s i c o n l y b y c o m p o s e r s f r o m t h e R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y , i n c l u d i n g t h r e e w o r l d p r e m i e r e s .

T h e U T R G V P e r c u s s i o n S t u d i o a n d s t u d e n t - l e d o r g a n i z a t i o n s ’ i n i t i a t i v e s a r e : t o r e c o g n i z e a n d f o s t e r , i n t h e p e r c u s s i o n i s t , t h e h i g h e s t p o s s i b l e l e v e l o f m u s i c i a n s h i p a n d a r t i s t r y ; p r o v i d e a f o r u m i n w h i c h p e r c u s s i o n i s t s c a n s h a r e a n d e x c h a n g e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p e r c u s s i v e a r t s a t t h e l o c a l , n a t i o n a l , a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l s o f e d u c a t i o n a n d p e r f o r m a n c e ; e n g a g e i n c o n t i n u i n g e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h p e r c u s s i v e - r e l a t e d a c t i v i t i e s ; a n d t o d e v e l o p t h e c a p a c i t y t o b e c o m e s u c c e s s f u l a r t i s t s a n d e d u c a t o r s S t u d e n t s o f t h e U T R G V P e r c u s s i o n S t u d i o h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d i n c o n f e r e n c e s h e l d a t J a m e s

M a d i s o n U n i v e r s i t y , S t e p h e n F .

A u s t i n S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , T r o y

U n i v e r s i t y , U n i v e r s i t y o f W e s t

A l a b a m a , U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h e r n

M i s s i s s i p p i , W e s t e r n O r e g o n U n i v e r s i t y , t h e T e x a s M u s i c

E d u c a t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n

C o n v e n t i o n , a n d t h e P e r c u s s i v e

A r t s S o c i e t y I n t e r n a t i o n a l

C o n v e n t i o n

A d j u n c t F a c u l t y : M a r c o G u e r r a

A f t e r g r a d u a t i n g w i t h a B a c h e l o r o f A r t s i n P e r c u s s i o n P e r f o r m a n c e f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s P a n A m e r i c a n , M a r c o G u e r r a s p e n t s u b s e q u e n t y e a r s w o r k i n g i n N e w Y o r k C i t y a s a n A f r oC a r i b b e a n p e r c u s s i o n f a c i l i t a t o r i n a f t e r - s c h o o l p r o g r a m s a n d I n t e g r a t e d

A r t s P r o g r a m w h e r e h e g a v e a p p l i e d d r u m - s e t l e s s o n s , s e r v e d a s c o n s u l t a n t f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l d r u m m e r s w h i l e w o r k i n g a t D r u m m e r ’ s W o r l d i n M a n h a t t a n ’ s B r o a d w a y T h e a t e r D i s t r i c t , a n d p e r f o r m e d o n a r e g u l a r b a s i s i n N Y C a n d s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s .

U p o n r e t u r n i n g t o t h e R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y , M a r c o s e r v e d a s a g r a d u a t e a s s i s t a n t i n t h e U T R G V S c h o o l o f M u s i c w h i l e w o r k i n g o n a M a s t e r ’ s i n m u s i c p e r f o r m a n c e . H e p e r f o r m s r e g u l a r l y w i t h i n w i t h h i s j a z z t r i o , a n R & B g r o u p , a f l a m e n c o d u o , a n d h e f r e e l a n c e s t h r o u g h o u t S o u t h T e x a s .

G r a d u a t e A s s i s t a n t : P e t e r N e y

P e t e r h a s p e r f o r m e d a s a S c o t l a n d b a s e d

p e r c u s s i o n i s t f o r t h i r t e e n y e a r s H e

b e g a n p l a y i n g a t A r b r o a t h H i g h S c h o o l ,

u n d e r t h e t u i t i o n o f P a u l J u d g e . D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d , h e a c h i e v e d n u m e r o u s

a w a r d s a t t h e A r b r o a t h M u s i c F e s t i v a l i n b o t h d r u m k i t a n d p e r c u s s i o n a n d w o n

A r b r o a t h H i g h S c h o o l ’ s M u s i c i a n o f t h e

Y e a r P e t e r t h e n w e n t o n t o o b t a i n a

B a c h e l o r o f M u s i c a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f

A b e r d e e n i n 2 0 1 9 u n d e r t h e t u i t i o n o f D r

L i s a N i c o l w h e r e i s g r a d u a t e d w i t h H i g h

H o n o r s . B e f o r e s t a r t i n g h i s M a s t e r o f

M u s i c i n P e r f o r m a n c e , P e t e r w o r k e d a t t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S c h o o l o f A b e r d e e n a s a n i n s t r u m e n t a l t u t o r f o r 2 y e a r s , d u r i n g w h i c h h e a l s o w o r k e d w i t h b o t h S o u n d S c o t l a n d a n d t h e Y o u t h M u s i c I n i t i a t i v e c r e a t i n g t e a c h i n g r e s o u r c e s f o r s t u d e n t s i n A b e r d e e n s h i r e . P e t e r i s v e r y p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t a l l t y p e s o f p e r c u s s i o n

a n d e n j o y s p l a y i n g d i f f e r e n t g e n r e s w i t h

a v a r i e t y o f e n s e m b l e s a n d m u s i c a l g r o u p s H e i s n o w c o n t i n u i n g h i s s t u d i e s

a s a G r a d u a t e A s s i s t a n t a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y

o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y u n d e r t h e

g u i d a n c e o f D r M a r k R a m i r e z a n d D r

M a r c o S c h i r r i p a

C o n s u l t a n t : M a u r i c i o C a s t e l l a n o i s c u r r e n t l y t h e D i r e c t o r o f P e r c u s s i o n a t P i o n e e r H i g h S c h o o l i n M i s s i o n , T X M a u r i c i o a l s o s e r v e s a s c o n d u c t o r o f t h e

C o n c e r t B a n d T h e P i o n e e r H i g h S c h o o l M a r c h i n g B a n d i s a f o u r c o n s e c u t i v e t i m e p a r t i c i p a n t i n t h e T e x a s 5 A S t a t e M a r c h i n g C o n t e s t , B O A S a n A n t o n i o S u p e r R e g i o n a l C l a s s C h a m p i o n , R e g i o n a l F i n a l i s t a n d R e g i o n a l C l a s s

C h a m p i o n M r C a s t e l l a n o c o n s i s t e n t l y h a s s t u d e n t s f r o m h i s s t u d i o e a r n p l a c e m e n t i n t h e B a n d , O r c h e s t r a a n d J a z z R e g i o n B a n d s a s w e l l a s t h e T M E A

A l l S t a t e B a n d s M a u r i c i o ' s j a z z p e r c u s s i o n i s t s h a v e a l s o e a r n e d m a n y O u t s t a n d i n g P e r f o r m e r A w a r d s a t l o c a l a n d r e g i o n a l J a z z F e s t i v a l s U n d e r h i s d i r e c t i o n , t h e P i o n e e r P e r c u s s i o n s e c t i o n h a s w o n t h e R o m a D r u m l i n e C o n t e s t a s w e l l a s m e d a l e d c o n s i s t e n t l y i n t h e T E C A I n d o o r P e r c u s s i o n C i r c u i t T h e

P i o n e e r P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e h a s b e e n a m u l t i - y e a r i n v i t e d p e r f o r m e r a t t h e

P A S V a l l e y D a y o f P e r c u s s i o n P r i o r t o h i s w o r k a t S I S D , M a u r i c i o r e c e i v e d h i s b a c h e l o r ’ s d e g r e e i n m u s i c f r o m T e x a s A & M K i n g s v i l l e w h e r e h e a l s o e a r n e d h i s T e x a s t e a c h i n g c e r t i f i c a t e H e c o m e s f r o m t h e p e r c u s s i o n s t u d i o o f M r R a n d y F l u m a n A s a s t u d e n t a t T e x a s A & M K i n g s v i l l e , M a u r i c i o p e r f o r m e d i n c l i n i c / c o n c e r t w i t h t h e T A M U K P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e a t t h e 1 9 9 9 T e x a s M u s i c E d u c a t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n C o n v e n t i o n I n 2 0 0 1 , h e p e r f o r m e d a t t h e T M E A C o n v e n t i o n w i t h t h e T A M U K S y m p h o n i c B a n d a n d i n 2 0 0 2 p e r f o r m e d a t t h e C o l l e g e B a n d D i r e c t o r s N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n C o n v e n t i o n a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f H o u s t o n . M a u r i c i o r e c e i v e d h i s M a s t e r s i n M u s i c w i t h a s p e c i a l t y i n P e r c u s s i o n P e r f o r m a n c e f r o m

T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y i n 2 0 2 1 f r o m t h e s t u d i o o f D r . M a r k R a m i r e z . W h i l e a t U T R G V , M a u r i c i o s e r v e d a s G r a d u a t e A s s i s t a n t w i t h t h e P e r c u s s i o n S t u d i o u n d e r D r . M a r k R a m i r e z a n d D r . M a r c o S c h i r r i p a . M a u r i c i o w a s a l s o a r e c i p i e n t o f t h e p r e s t i g i o u s S u s t a i n a b i l i t y F e l l o w s h i p S c h o l a r s h i p a n d h a d t h e h o n o r o f w o r k i n g a l o n g s i d e r e c e n t M e d a l o f F r e e d o m h o n o r e e , D r . J u l i e t G a r c i a .

I n t h e s p r i n g o f 2 0 1 8 , t h e P i o n e e r

H i g h S c h o o l P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e w a s n a m e d w i n n e r o f t h e

P e r c u s s i v e A r t s S o c i e t y –

I n t e r n a t i o n a l P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e C o m p e t i t i o n a n d p e r f o r m e d a s h o w c a s e c o n c e r t a t P A S I C ’ 1 8 i n

I n d i a n a p o l i s , I n d i a n a T h i s m a r k e d t h e f i r s t t i m e t h e e n s e m b l e r e c e i v e d t h i s p r e s t i g i o u s h o n o r T h e e n s e m b l e p r e m i e r e d m u s i c b y

J e s u s J . M a r t i n e z , a n d p e r f o r m e d w i t h r e n o w n e d p e r c u s s i o n i s t M a t t P e n l a n d

C u r r e n t l y , M r C a s t e l l a n o p e r f o r m s w i t h t h e V a l l e y S y m p h o n y

O r c h e s t r a A c t i v e a s a c h a m b e r m u s i c i a n , M a u r i c i o a l s o p e r f o r m s w i t h t h e U n i f i e d P e r c u s s i o n E n s e m b l e . T h e e n s e m b l e w a s c r e a t e d i n 2 0 0 8 t o s e r v e a s a l i v e m o d e l o f t h e m u s i c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f p e r c u s s i o n l i t e r a t u r e U P h a s p e r f o r m e d w i t h t h e a r e a P e r c u s s i v e A r t s S o c i e t y : V a l l e y D a y o f P e r c u s s i o n , s h a r i n g t h e s t a g e w i t h a m a z i n g p e r c u s s i o n i s t s s u c h a s L a l o D a v i l a , B r i a n Z a t o r , M a r k F o r d , G e o r g e F r o c k a n d M a t t S a v a g e A s a s o l o p e r f o r m e r , M a u r i c i o h a s h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r e m i e r w o r k s b y c o m p o s e r s E t h a n H i g h t a n d I v a n M e n d o z a I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s p r o f e s s i o n a l d u t i e s w i t h S h a r y l a n d I S D , M a u r i c i o m a i n t a i n s a p r i v a t e p e r c u s s i o n s t u d i o , a s w e l l a s b e i n g a n a c t i v e c l i n i c i a n , a d j u d i c a t o r , a n d p e r f o r m e r i n t h e R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y M a u r i c i o i s a p r o u d m e m b e r o f t h e I n n o v a t i v e P e r c u s s i o n A r t i s t & E d u c a t i o n T e a m .

2023 Indoor Percussion

Consultants

Percussion Studies

A u d i t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n

B a c h e l o r o f M u s i c ( B M ) i n E d u c a t i o n A c c e p t a n c e i n t o t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y S c h o o l o f M u s i c i s g r a n t e d f o l l o w i n g a s u c c e s s f u l A u d i t i o n . A p r o s p e c t i v e s t u d e n t ’ s a u d i t i o n s h o u l d d e m o n s t r a t e p r o f i c i e n c y i n t h e m a i n a r e a s o f p e r c u s s i o n p e r f o r m a n c e : S n a r e D r u m , K e y b o a r d P e r c u s s i o n , T i m p a n i , a n d D r u m s e t . T h e f o l l o w i n g l i s t s c o n t a i n a u d i t i o n r e p e r t o i r e s u g g e s t i o n s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r e a c h u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d g r a d u a t e d e g r e e p r o g r a m a v a i l a b l e t o P e r c u s s i o n m a j o r s . T h e s e s u g g e s t i o n s a r e n o t r e q u i r e m e n t s .

A u d i t i o n e e s s h o u l d p r e p a r e r e p e r t o i r e w h i c h b e s t d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e i r a b i l i t y o n e a c h p e r c u s s i o n i n s t r u m e n t . S n a r e d r u m a n d k e y b o a r d p e r c u s s i o n s i g h t - r e a d i n g w i l l b e r e q u i r e d f o r e a c h a u d i t i o n .

B a c h e l o r o f M u s i c ( B M ) i n E d u c a t i o n

C h o o s e a t l e a s t t h r e e o f t h e f o u r i n s t r u m e n t s

S n a r e D r u m ( o n e s o l o o r e t u d e ) :

C o n c e r t ( r e q u i r e d ) :

C i r o n e , P o r t r a i t s i n R h y t h m

P e t e r s , A d v a n c e d S n a r e D r u m S t u d i e s

R u d i m e n t a l ( o p t i o n a l ) :

W i l c o x o n , M o d e r n R u d i m e n t a l S w i n g S o l o s

P r a t t , 1 4 M o d e r n C o n t e s t S o l o s

M a r i m b a :

F o u r a n d / o r t w o - m a l l e t s o l o w o r k b e s t r e p r e s e n t i n g s t u d e n t ’ s a b i l i t y l e v e l .

T i m p a n i ( o n e s o l o o r e t u d e ) :

C a r r o l l , E x e r c i s e s , E t u d e s , a n d S o l o s f o r t h e T i m p a n i ( A n y s o l o , p g 1 2 6 o r l a t e r )

F i r t h , T h e S o l o T i m p a n i s t

H o c h r a i n e r , E t ü d e n f ü r T i m p a n i E q u i v a l e n t s o l o w o r k b e s t r e p r e s e n t i n g s t u d e n t ’ s a b i l i t y l e v e l ( B e c k , F i n k , P e t e r s , e t c . )

D r u m s e t :

D e m o n s t r a t e b a s i c s k i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s w i t h a n e m p h a s i s o n t i m e a n d f e e l i n s e v e r a l s t y l e s , s u c h a s r o c k , j a z z / s w i n g , b o s s a n o v a , s a m b a , r e g g a e , c a l y p s o , e t c .

Percussion Studies

A u d i t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n

B a c h e l o r o f M u s i c ( B M ) i n P e r f o r m a n c e

P e r c u s s i o n S t u d i o A u d i t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n

A c c e p t a n c e i n t o t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y S c h o o l o f M u s i c i s g r a n t e d f o l l o w i n g a s u c c e s s f u l A u d i t i o n . A p r o s p e c t i v e s t u d e n t ’ s a u d i t i o n s h o u l d d e m o n s t r a t e p r o f i c i e n c y i n t h e m a i n a r e a s o f p e r c u s s i o n p e r f o r m a n c e : S n a r e D r u m , K e y b o a r d P e r c u s s i o n , T i m p a n i , a n d D r u m s e t T h e f o l l o w i n g l i s t s c o n t a i n a u d i t i o n r e p e r t o i r e s u g g e s t i o n s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r e a c h u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d g r a d u a t e d e g r e e p r o g r a m a v a i l a b l e t o P e r c u s s i o n m a j o r s T h e s e s u g g e s t i o n s a r e n o t r e q u i r e m e n t s A u d i t i o n e e s s h o u l d p r e p a r e r e p e r t o i r e w h i c h b e s t d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e i r a b i l i t y o n e a c h p e r c u s s i o n i n s t r u m e n t . S n a r e d r u m a n d k e y b o a r d p e r c u s s i o n s i g h t - r e a d i n g w i l l b e r e q u i r e d f o r e a c h a u d i t i o n .

B a c h e l o r o f M u s i c ( B M ) i n P e r f o r m a n c e

C h o o s e a t l e a s t t h r e e o f t h e f o u r i n s t r u m e n t s .

S n a r e D r u m ( o n e s o l o o r e t u d e ) :

C o n c e r t ( r e q u i r e d ) :

C i r o n e , P o r t r a i t s i n R h y t h m

P e t e r s , A d v a n c e d S n a r e D r u m S t u d i e s

D e l e c l u s e , D o u z e É t u d e s p o u r C a i s s e - C l a i r e

R u d i m e n t a l ( o p t i o n a l ) :

W i l c o x o n , M o d e r n R u d i m e n t a l S w i n g S o l o s

P r a t t , 1 4 M o d e r n C o n t e s t S o l o s

M a r i m b a :

I n t e r m e d i a t e s o l o w o r k b e s t r e p r e s e n t i n g s t u d e n t ’ s a b i l i t y l e v e l .

F o u r - m a l l e t s o l o e n c o u r a g e d b u t n o t r e q u i r e d .

T i m p a n i ( o n e s o l o o r e t u d e ) :

C a r r o l l , E x e r c i s e s , E t u d e s , a n d S o l o s f o r t h e T i m p a n i ( A n y s o l o , p g . 1 2 6 o r l a t e r )

F i r t h , T h e S o l o T i m p a n i s t

H o c h r a i n e r , E t ü d e n f ü r T i m p a n i

E q u i v a l e n t s o l o w o r k b e s t r e p r e s e n t i n g s t u d e n t ’ s a b i l i t y l e v e l ( B e c k , C a r t e r , e t c . )

D r u m s e t :

D e m o n s t r a t e b a s i c s k i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s w i t h a n e m p h a s i s o n t i m e a n d f e e l i n s e v e r a l s t y l e s , s u c h a s

r o c k , j a z z / s w i n g , b o s s a n o v a , s a m b a , r e g g a e , c a l y p s o , e t c

Percussion Studies

A u d i t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n

M a s t e r o f M u s i c ( M M ) i n P e r c u s s i o n P e r f o r m a n c e M a s t e r o f M u s i c ( M M ) i n E d u c a t i o n ( w h e n a p p l y i n g f o r a G r a d u a t e A s s i s t a n t s h i p ) P e r c u s s i o n S t u d i o A u d i t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n A c c e p t a n c e i n t o t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e x a s R i o G r a n d e V a l l e y S c h o o l o f M u s i c i s g r a n t e d f o l l o w i n g a s u c c e s s f u l A u d i t i o n A p r o s p e c t i v e s t u d e n t ’ s a u d i t i o n s h o u l d d e m o n s t r a t e p r o f i c i e n c y i n t h e m a i n a r e a s o f p e r c u s s i o n p e r f o r m a n c e : S n a r e D r u m , K e y b o a r d P e r c u s s i o n , T i m p a n i , a n d D r u m s e t . T h e f o l l o w i n g l i s t s c o n t a i n a u d i t i o n r e p e r t o i r e s u g g e s t i o n s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r e a c h u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d g r a d u a t e d e g r e e p r o g r a m a v a i l a b l e t o P e r c u s s i o n m a j o r s . T h e s e s u g g e s t i o n s a r e n o t r e q u i r e m e n t s . A u d i t i o n e e s s h o u l d p r e p a r e r e p e r t o i r e w h i c h b e s t d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e i r a b i l i t y o n e a c h p e r c u s s i o n i n s t r u m e n t S n a r e d r u m a n d k e y b o a r d p e r c u s s i o n s i g h t - r e a d i n g w i l l b e r e q u i r e d f o r e a c h a u d i t i o n

S n a r e D r u m : C o n c e r t ( r e q u i r e d ) :

D e l e c l u s e , D o u z e É t u d e s p o u r C a i s s e - C l a i r e

O r c h e s t r a l E x c e r p t s :

P r o k o f i e v , L i e u t e n a n t K i j é , m v m t I

R i m s k y - K o r s a k o v , S c h e h e r z a d e , m v m t s I I I & I V

R u d i m e n t a l ( o p t i o n a l ) : T o m p k i n s , N i n e F r e n c h - A m e r i c a n R u d i m e n t a l S o l o s

P r a t t , 1 4 M o d e r n C o n t e s t S o l o s

K e y b o a r d P e r c u s s i o n :

A d v a n c e d f o u r - m a l l e t k e y b o a r d s o l o w o r k b e s t r e p r e s e n t i n g s t u d e n t ’ s a b i l i t y l e v e l O r c h e s t r a l X y l o p h o n e E x c e r p t s :

G e r s h w i n , P o r g y a n d B e s s K o d a l y , “ H a r y J a n o s ” S u i t e , m v m t V I

T i m p a n i :

C a r t e r , E i g h t P i e c e s f o r T i m p a n i D e l e c l u s e , V i n g t É t u d e s p o u r T i m b a l e s

O r c h e s t r a l E x c e r p t s : B a r t ó k , C o n c e r t o f o r O r c h e s t r a , m v m t I V B e e t h o v e n , S y m p h o n y N o . 9 , m v m t I V T c h a i k o v s k y , S y m p h o n y N o . 4 , m v m t I

D r u m s e t ( o p t i o n a l b u t s t r o n g l y e n c o u r a g e d ) : D e m o n s t r a t e b a s i c s k i l l s a n d t e c h n i q u e s w i t h a n e m p h a s i s o n t i m e a n d f e e l i n s e v e r a l s t y l e s , s u c h a s r o c k , j a z z / s w i n g , b o s s a n o v a , s a m b a , r e g g a e , c a l y p s o , e t c . M u s t d e m o n s t r a t e a t l e a s t t h r e e c o n t r a s t i n g s t y l e s . N o n - W e s t e r n P e r c u s s i o n ( o p t i o n a l ) : D e m o n s t r a t e a b i l i t y / k n o w l e d g e i n a r e a ( s ) o f s t u d e n t ’ s c h o i c e ( A f r o - C u b a n , B r a z i l i a n , A f r o - C a r i b b e a n , e t c )

Graduate Assistantship in Percussion

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Music announces an open Graduate Assistantship in Percussion beginning Fall Semester 2023. An outstanding percussionist will be selected from a competitive pool of applicants and will be awarded a full-time or part-time (.50) appointment to pursue a Master of Music degree in Performance or Education. Full-time Graduate Assistantship appointments range from 9 to 12-months and are awarded stipends from $11,250 up to $15,000 depending on appointments. All graduate assistants will be eligible for UTRGV in-state graduate tuition. Graduate assistants receiving any portion of a stipend must be enrolled at full time status (minimum of 9 graduate credit hours) and will need to maintain a 3.0 average for the assistantship to be renewed each semester, up to four consecutive semesters.

Graduate Assistantship in Percussion

Responsibilities

Assigned based on studio needs and experience and will include:

UTRGV Drumline and Athletic Bands

Overseeing inventory and maintenance of equipment

Undergraduate Applied Lessons

Marimba Ens. (Mexican and Contemporary)

Percussion Studio Social Media Coordination

Percussion Chamber Ensemble Coaching/Conducting

Assistance with Percussion Methods Classes

As determined by the Director of the School of Music, additional duties may involve work with music theory/fundamentals, music appreciation, music education, methods courses, music history, world music, music technology, and music laboratory

All applicants must be accepted into the UTRGV Graduate College and fulfill all application requirements for School of Music by the priority deadline of March 15, 2023.

For additional information, please contact:

Dr. Cynthia Cripps Graduate Coordinator Professor of Saxophone

cynthia.cripps@utrgv.edu

956-665-3474

Dr. Mark Joseph Ramírez Associate Director, School of Music Professor of Percussion Area Coordinator mark.ramirez@utrgv.edu

Dr. Marco Schirripa Assistant Professor of Percussion marco.schirripa@utrgv.edu