Be prepared for a Percussion Celebration with performances and celebrations of the TTU Percussion Studio featured at the TMEA Conference in San Antonio!
In the past three months, students and faculty in the TTU School of Music percussion studios have been preparing for their Percussion Celebration that will be featured at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Conference in San Antonio. The TTU Percussion Studios have been invited by TMEA to perform in the upcoming conference.
The TTU Steel Drum Band and Afro-Samba Ensemble will be performing on Saturday, February 11 at 9 AM. In our interview with Dr. Lisa Rogers, Professor of Percussion Studies, gives us an inside scoop on the preparation for this performance. “The Steel Drum Band known as "Apocalypso Now" has enjoyed collaborating with TTU Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies, Stephen Jones, in preparation for TMEA. Jones is an incredible tenor saxophone player and is soloing on two of our TMEA selections. One of these selections is also very special as it was arranged especially for Apocalypso Now by TTU Percussion Alum Jeff Smith. Recently retired, Smith was Director of Bands at Killeen Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas.”
Location: CC Bridge Hall Music Showcase (Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center)
Clinicians:
Lisa Rogers, Professor of Percussion Studies
Michael Mixtacki, Lecturer of Percussion
Guest Soloist:
Stephen Jones, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies
Photo Credit: Karina Dozal
During their time in San Antonio, the percussion studios will also have outreach performances at two high schools in San Antonio on Friday, February 10: Alamo Heights High School and John Harlan High School. Their performance at Alamo Heights will be “'extra' special as Alamo Heights Assistant Band Director and Percussion Coordinator, Troy Chester, is a TTU Percussion and Steel Drum Band Alum.”
Along with their many planned performances, there will be a “TTU Percussion Celebration Reception; Tribute to Alan Shinn” to kick off this percussion extravaganza. This event will be held on Thursday, February 9 from 6 – 8 PM.
Location: River Terrace Room (Mariott River Center)
Providing hors-d'oeuvres and cash bar
Link for hotel information and directions: https://www.marriott.com/
Photo Credit: Karina Dozal
“Our celebration would not be complete without a special tribute and tremendous thanks to Alan D. Shinn (1954-2021), who served as Professor of Percussion Studies from 1982-2020. It was Shinn's fervent wish for percussionists passing through the Texas Techn University Percussion Program to remain steadfast Red Raiders and stay in touch. We celebrate his legacy of excellence in teaching and performance as well as his passion for life, family, and all things jazz and percussion.” - TTU Percussion Studios
This will be a celebration of everyone who has ever been part of the Texas Tech Percussion Studio and enjoy time to reminisce about Joel Leach, Ron Dyer, Alan Shinn, Gregg Koyle, Lisa Rogers, Mike Mixtacki, ZIT, Calypso Blue, Apocalypso Now, AND many more!
Dr. Lisa Rogers shares on what it means for her and the Percussion studios to be recognized at TMEA. “As not only a former TTU Percussion Alum myself and now Professor of Percussion Studies, I hope our performance at TMEA showcases what wonderful student musicians we currently have in the percussion studio and contributes to the legacy of all the fabulous percussionists that have previously passed through the program. It is this legacy of excellence in music-making with a strong sense of a percussion studio family atmosphere that Professor Emeritus of Percussion Studies Alan Shinn created here at Texas Tech that we will continue to cultivate and preserve.”
If you cannot come down to San Antonio, don't worry! Come celebrate and support the TTU School of Music Percussion Studios here in Lubbock. On Sunday, February 5 at 2 PM the Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Band will be performing their TMEA send-off concert in the Hemmle Recital Hall!