DRUMMING IN SONG (PERCUSSION FOR CONDUCTORS)
Country: USA
This presentation will explore percussion techniques and terminology through live examples and discussion of the incorporation of percussion into the choral repertoire. The session will enable conductors to feel competent when working with percussionists in regard to terminology and technique in the classical choral canon and; to build their fundamental percussion knowledge and skill on world percussion instruments such as djembe, cajon, shekere, tambourine; and to present basic concepts for conductors regarding: marimba, timpani, as well as less traditional instruments.
Dr. Cara Tasher has served as Director of Choral Studies at the University of North Florida (UNF) since 2006. She has performed and recorded with conductors Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Eschenbach, James Levine, Robert Shaw and Sir Georg Solti. Tasher has been professionally associated with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Conspirare, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Mexico City's Opera de Bellas Artes, Portugal's Vocalizze Festival, Trinity ChoirWall Street, Xavier University, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Dr. Tasher is active within the American Choral Directors Association, International Federation of Choral Music, and the National Collegiate Choral Organisation in various leadership capacities. Tasher conducts the Chorale and the Chamber Singers, teaches the conducting curriculum, and oversees the choral department and choral leadership team. At UNF, she was awarded the 2010 Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award and the 2016 Outstanding International Leadership Award.
Dr. Andrea Venet is a percussion artist, educator, and composer specialising in contemporary and classical genres. She is the Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of North Florida where she directs the UNF percussion ensemble, teaches applied lessons, pedagogy, methods and percussion literature. As a soloist and chamber musician, Andrea has performed internationally in Europe, Japan, and Trinidad and has been a featured performer with SNL percussionist Valerie Naranjo, Ivan Trevino, the Lawson Ensemble, Project Trio, the Eastman Percussion Ensemble. A passionate educator, Andrea’s research involves pedagogy, with focus on college percussion education at various levels, classical improvisation and historically informed Baroque performance practice techniques for Bach on marimba. Actively writing music for solo and chamber idioms, Andrea’s compositions and arrangements can be found through Keyboard Percussion Publications (KPP) and Tapspace Publications. Andrea holds a DMA in Performance and Literature with a minor in Pedagogy, and the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. She received her Masters and Bachelors degrees from Rutgers and Arizona State University, respectively. An active member of the Percussive Arts Society, she currently serves as the Florida Chapter President, and is endorsed by Malletech, Dream Cymbals, and Remo.