Letter from the Department
Welcome to this concert presentation by the Music Program in the Department of Performing Arts. We are delighted to have the wonderful support of great families and friends. A very special welcome goes out to our visitors from the community who may not have any affiliation to our students, and simply come to hear spectacular musical performances by these talented student musicians. We hope everyone in our audience is pleased with the musical selections; and proud of the achievement of the students involved.
The students you will hear at this performance are not music majors. They do this for their love of music and dedicate their time and energy to cultivating their passion for this art form. They are as dedicated to their studies and career pursuits as they are to this intrinsic passion they have within them. The program is fortunate to have a bounty of students with this yearning. We would not exist without them!
The Music Program and Department of Performing Arts is dedicated to providing robust opportunities in the performing arts while students are at Drexel. Our goal is to provide a positive and supportive environment for our students. It is our hope that students and audiences alike feel they are represented in the selections being performed. The human connection is most important to us all.
Thank you for attending this performance. Being here is the greatest show of support for the students, the Music Program, and the Department of Performing Arts. Thanks to the dedicated leadership of the faculty ensemble directors and staff, we are pleased to present you with the following program.
Sincerely,
Luke Abruzzo, Music Program Director
Miriam Giguere, PhD, Department Head, Performing Arts
Acknowledgements
The Drexel University Percussion Ensemble would like to Thank: Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design’s Dean - Jason Schupach; Performing Arts Department Head –Dr. Miriam Giguere; Music Program Director – Luke Abruzzo; Performing Arts Ensemble Associate – Lauren Tracy; Performing Arts Department Administrator – Hannah Burke; Administrative Assistant – Ellie Ebby; Department of Performing Arts Graduate Assistant – Elisha Robinson.
About The Ensembles
In the Drexel University Percussion Ensemble, students gain valuable experience and training on the orchestral mallet instruments, such as the marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, & timpani, traditional ethnic hand percussion instruments such as the congas, bongos, djembe, dumbek, as well as, on the drum kit. The Percussion Ensemble also incorporates the latest in music technology, the addition of non-traditional percussive instruments, dancers, guest conductors and audio/visual aids for arrangements. Students are also featured as soloists or conductors during the concerts and provided with the arena to create their own compositions and arrangements.
About The Concert
The Drexel University Percussion Ensemble presents our Fall Concert, featuring music by Steely Dan, Latin music artist, Tito Puente, theme music from the video game, “Legend of Zelda,” an original composition by our student performers, Rui Zhao and Ezra Smith-Pohl, and a Drumline style feature by Director, Mark Beecher. We hope you enjoy it! Many Thanks!
Program
The Drexel University Percussion Ensemble
Mark Beecher, Director
Top Secret --------------------------------------------------------
Title Theme from Legend of Zelda:---------------Ocarina of Time
Aja ---------------------------------------
Mark Beecher
Koji Kondo, Arr. Dj-Jo and Orch Azzara
Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, Arr. Doug Wallace
Ran Kan Kan ----------------------------------
Window --------------------------------------
Tito Puente, Arr. Lalo Davila
Rui Zhao and Ezra Smith-Pohl
Ensemble Members
Mark Beecher
Ensemble Director
Caleb Altizer
Keyboards
Kirsten Benes
Mallets, Percussion
Tegan Doherty
Drum Kit, Congas, Percussion
Harang Kang
Glockenspiel, Percussion
Reeve Kleger
Mallets, Percussion
Veronica Medlock Percussion
Elena Mercado
Mallets, Percussion
Mia Nagy
Mallets, Electric Bass, Percussion
Mark Sadovskiy
Drum Kit, Percussion
Ezra Smith-Pohl
Mallets, Percussion
Sim Wafula
Mallets, Percussion
Rui Zhao
Mallets, Percussion
Mark Beecher Percussion Ensemble Director
Mark Beecher has over 40 years' experience, playing and teaching worldwide. Mark attended Widener University, where he performed & toured with the Widener Jazz Ensemble, directed by Woody Herman alumnus, John Vanore. Mark studied with Latin percussion masters Frankie Malabe and Jose Luis 'Changuito' Quintana, African, drumming master Oscar Sulley Eastern Indian drumming master
T.N. Bala, and Frank Zappa drummers, Chad Wackerman & Chester Thompson. Mark has performed on stage with a number of GRAMMY Winning & Nominated artists, such as Shania Twain, The Chieftains, Kathy Sledge (of Sister Sledge), drummer Peter Erskine, Elio Villafranca, etc.; he has recorded over 40 albums with a variety of artists; his drum tracks were featured on the album, “Action Moves People United,” which was included in the Billboard Top 10, as well as, on the tune, “Tied,” by Mary Arden Collins, in the soundtrack for the CBS TV hit series, “Criminal Minds”; Mark is a Spotify Verified Artist; his albums and singles have been included, each year, in the 1st Round Ballot Voting for the GRAMMY Awards. Mark is a Voting Member of the GRAMMYs (Recording Academy), his creative work has been a part of 2 GRAMMY-Winning albums and 6 Nominated albums; he’s authored a number of published works, including 'The Rudimental Percussionist' and the book, “I.A.R.P. Rudimental Solos,” as well as his own instructional DVD, “The Art of Ancient Rudimental Drumming,” which has been endorsed by members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Mark Beecher is an endorser for Ludwig Drums, D’Addario, Evans Drumheads, ProMark Drumsticks, Puresound Percussion, and RealFeel Drum Pads.
Drexel offers four different music minors:
Music: requires 26 credits, including work in Music Theory, History, private lessons, ensemble performance, and 9 credits of music electives.
Music Theory and Composition: aimed at people who are writing their own music or who would like to begin doing so. You will take courses in Music Theory, Arranging, Composition, and Digital Composition, and end with a portfolio of several completed pieces.
Music Performance: requires two years of private lesson studies with our artist faculty culminating in a recital. The Music Program will provide support for the recital venue and accompanist.
Jazz & African-American Music: includes course work in Jazz History, African-American Music, Jazz Theory, private study in Jazz performance, and ensemble work in several ensembles devoted to jazz.
Support Great Performance
Dance, Music, and Theatre are a vital, central part of the Drexel academia and student life. Donations support performing arts ensembles and programs, as well as the operation of our performing arts venues, including the Mandell Theater and URBN Annex Black Box Theater.
Drexel University Department of Performing Arts Staff
Department Head Dr. Miriam Giguere
Program Directors Luke Abruzzo Music
Nick Anselmo Theatre
Jennifer Morley Dance
Administrative Staff
Ellie Ebby Administrative Coordinator =
Hannah Burke Department Administrator
Caroline Leipf
Mandell Theater Managing Director
Elisha Robinson
Performing Arts Graduate Assistant
Liv Shoup
Audience Services Coordinator
Lauren Tracy
Ensemble Production Associate
Production Staff
Paul Jerue
Theatre Production Manager/Black Box Theater Technical Director
Asaki Kuruma
Costume Shop Manager
Chris Totora
Mandell Theater Technical Director
