UAF to host Alaska Day of Percussion

Submitted by Marmian Grimes
Phone: (907) 474-7902
10/19/06

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will host the 11th-annual Alaska Day of Percussion Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006 at the Charles Davis Concert Hall.

The event, which begins at 9 a.m., will feature guest artists Robert Chappell, a percussionist, and world-renowned pan virtuoso Liam Teague. Chappell and Teague, along with the UAF Percussion and Steel Drum Ensemble, will perform at the event’s final concert at 8 p.m.

Other performances throughout the day include concerts by the University of Alaska Anchorage and University of Alaska Fairbanks percussion ensembles, the UAF Steel Drum Ensemble, the Wasilla High School Marching Drumline and the West Valley High School Steel Drum Ensemble. In addition, the event will include clinics on drum set technique, pan and mallet improvisation, classical percussion techniques and percussion ensemble performance.

The event will be an outstanding experience for any percussionist aged 10 through adult. The public is also invited to attend any of the sessions and concerts throughout the day. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students, military and seniors, and $5 for members of the Percussive Arts Society.

Hailed as the "Paganini of the Steelpan," Teague currently serves as assistant professor of steelpan and co-director of the Northern Illinois University Steel Band. He has distinguished himself as the recipient of many awards in his homeland, Trinidad and Tobago, including championships for his ability on the steelpan, violin and recorder. In addition to being the co-winner of the National Steelband Festival Solo Championship of Trinidad and Tobago, Teague won the St. Louis Symphony Volunteers Association Young Artists Competition in 1998.

Chappell has been a member of the Columbus, Ft. Worth, Dallas and Illinois Chamber Symphonies and performed often with the Indianapolis and Elgin Symphonies. Chappell was keyboardist/percussionist with the Paul Winter Consort for five years, performing throughout the U.S., Japan, Canada and Mexico and recording three albums. He formed his own world jazz group, Rhythmic Union, recording two albums and touring extensively. His formal education includes degrees from Ohio State University and the University of North Texas, where he toured and recorded with the renowned One O’Clock Lab Band.

Since 1998, Teague and Chappell have performed together as Liam Teague+ Robert Chappell. Their debut CD, "For Lack of Better Words,"? was released in 2002. Teague and Chappell recently formed a six-piece Latin/Caribbean group, Panoramic, which was featured at the 2004 Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

CONTACT: Scott Deal, associate professor of percussion, at (907) 474-1873 or via e-mail at scott.deal@alaska.edu. Marmian Grimes, UAF public information officer, at (907) 474-7902 or via e-mail at marmian.grimes@uaf.edu. UAF music department at (907) 474-7555.

ON THE WEB: www.alaska.edu/uaf/music