Carleton College invites the public to a not-to-be-missed performance by Grammy Award-winning artists Third Coast Percussion on Tuesday, April 11 at 8 p.m. in the Concert Hall. Hailed by The New Yorker as “vibrant” and “superb” and called “sonically spectacular” by the Chicago Tribune, Third Coast Percussion explores and expands the extraordinary sonic possibilities of the percussion repertoire.
The four classically-trained percussionists (David Skidmore, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and Sean Connors) hail from the great city of Chicago. For over ten years, the ensemble has forged a unique path in the musical landscape with virtuosic, energetic performances that celebrate the extraordinary depth and breadth of musical possibilities in the world of percussion. The ensemble has been praised for “commandingly elegant” (New York Times) performances, the “rare power” (Washington Post) of their recordings, and “an inspirational sense of fun and curiosity” (Star Tribune). The four members of Third Coast are also accomplished teachers, and since 2012 have served as ensemble-in-residence at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
A direct connection with the audience is at the core of all of Third Coast Percussion’s work, whether the musicians are speaking from the stage about a new piece of music, inviting the audience to play along in a concert or educational performance, or inviting their fans around the world to create new music using one of their free mobile apps.
Third Coast Percussion maintains a busy touring schedule, with past performances in 32 of the 50 states plus Canada, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland, and venues ranging from concert halls at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and De Doelen to clubs and alternative performance spaces such as New York’s Le Poisson Rouge and the National Gallery’s West Garden Court.
The quartet’s curiosity and eclectic taste have led to a series of unlikely collaborations that have produced exciting new art. The ensemble has worked with engineers at the University of Notre Dame, architects at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, dancers at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and musicians from traditions ranging from the mbira music of Zimbabwe’s Shona people, to indie rockers, to some of the world’s leading concert musicians.
Third Coast Percussion’s recordings include three full-length albums, three EPs, and a number of appearances on other releases. The quartet has put its stamp on iconic percussion works by John Cage and Steve Reich, and Third Coast has also created first recordings of commissioned works by Augusta Read Thomas, David T. Little, and Ted Hearne, in addition to recordings of the ensemble’s own compositions. In 2017 the ensemble honored with a prestigious Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble performance for their recording of Steve Reich’s works for percussion.
More at thirdcoastpercussion.com.
This event is sponsored by Arts@Carleton. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4475. The Concert Hall is located on First Street, between Winona and Nevada Streets, in Northfield.