The SUNY Geneseo Percussion Ensemble will present its most adventurous performance in many years during its “Cirque Du Percussion” concert April 30 in Wadsworth Auditorium. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. It will feature physical theater, improvisation, humor and other surprises, according to Jim Tiller, the director of the ensemble.
GENESEO, N.Y. – The SUNY Geneseo Percussion Ensemble will present its most adventurous performance in many years during its “Cirque Du Percussion” concert April 30 in Wadsworth Auditorium. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. It will feature physical theater, improvisation, humor and other surprises, according to Jim Tiller, the director of the ensemble.
“The art of percussion playing is innately visual,” said Tiller, who teaches percussion at Geneseo and is principal percussionist for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. “With that in mind, we set out to create a concert filled with ‘theater’ pieces, music written solely for percussion instruments that are visually enticing. The players will use an array of instruments, their voices and even their bodies to create incredible music.”
Selections and composers will include “Stinkin’ Garbage with improvisations” (Ed Agenziano); “What Goes Around Comes Around” (Chris Carmean); “Sizzle!” (Nathan Daughtrey); “Monster Mudder Truck Pull” (Paul Bissell); “Volume Pig” (Gareth Farr); “The Ragtime Robin” (George H. Green arr. Bob Becker); and “Body Lotion” (Christopher Fellinger).
Ensemble members include Austin Ainsworth from Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; Liz Bengert from West Seneca, N.Y.; James Canning from York, N.Y.; Andrew Consler from Conesus, N.Y.; Casey Mae Filiaci from Pittsford, N.Y.; Holly Gilbert from Oswego, N.Y.; Robert Mercogliano from New Paltz, N.Y.; Benjamin Michalak from Hadley, Mass.; Steve Sicari from Saint James, N.Y.; and Noah Sorensen from Ithaca, N.Y.