P.A.S. Idaho

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Schedule of Upcoming Events

PAS/Idaho Day Percussion Schedule of Events

(Subject to Change)

8:00am Registration Opens (You must register to eligible to win prizes)

8:45am The Verde Percussion Group (Concert/Clinic) (B125)

9:15am James Harrison-Clinic (Big Band Chart Interpretation)(C125)

10:00am Michael Huestis Clinic (Marching Percussion Technique) (B125)

11:00am Andrew Spencer- Marimba Clinic- Recital Hall (C200)

11.10pm James Harrison Drum Set (Question/Answer Session) (C125)

12:00pm LUNCH BREAK 30min

12:30pm Lunch Time Concert

Capital High School Winter Drum Line & Percussion Concussion (OUTSIDE)

1:10pm Michael Huestis Clinic-(Advanced Marching Percussion Concepts)(B125)

1:15 pm Ben Pursley African Djembe (Clinic- Master class) (C125)

2:20pm Andrew Spencer- Symphonic Percussion Techniques Clinic (B125)

3:40pm Jimmy Branly –Drum Set Clinic (New Concepts in Afro-Cuban Drumming) Recital Hall (C200)

3:45pm John Baldwin, (B125) FUNdamentals Session

5:10pm Door Prize Session (C200)

5:45pm Drum Circle Led by Ben Pursley (outside)

ARTIST BIOS
 

Jimmy  Branly  -Born in Havana, Cuba in 1972, Branly began playing drums at the age of 13. Branly has performed with nearly every mayor group in Cuba, in virtually every musical genre from straight-ahead jazz to fusion to hardcore dance music .

Among his credits (in Cuba and the U.S.) are, piano virtuoso Gonzalo Rubalcaba, N.G la Banda, Issac Delgado, Cuarto Espacio, Hernan Lopez Nussa quartet, Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Strunz and Farah, Celia Cruz, Tito Nieves, Franky Negron, Sheila E, Jimmy Haslip, Russell Ferrante, Otmaro Ruiz, The Carlos Cuevas Trio, Alberto Salas, Rebecca Mauleon, Francisco Aguabella, Poncho Sanchez, Justo Almario, Alex Acuna, Gregg Bissonette, Cuba LA, The L.A Latin-Jazz All Stars Big Band, Sandro Albert's Quintet, Bob Shepard Cuartet, and many others.

“Jimmy Branly is one of my favorite drummers ever! He has been a great inspiration/teacher/drum hero and friend to me for many years now. I am sure that the world of drumming will benefit greatly from the material in this book/audio set!”
— Gregg Bissonette

Andrew Spencer - currently holds the position of Professor of Percussion at Central Michigan University. An active recitalist and clinician, he has performed as a soloist in the United States, Poland, Japan, Canada, and Costa Rica. In 1999 he released “Slender Beams,” a recording which features works by composer Dave Hollinden. In addition, Spencer has premiered numerous compositions, including works by Hollinden, Mark Polishook, Samuel Adler, Robert May and Henry Gwiazda. 

   Equally experienced in orchestral performance Dr. Spencer is Timpanist with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra. He recently was Timpanist/Principal Percussionist with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Percussionist for the Cascade Festival Orchestra before moving to Michigan.  Additional positions have included Principal Percussionst/Timpanist with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera Company. He has performed with the Spokane Symphony, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra. In addition he has performed with numerous chamber ensembles throughout the Pacific Northwest, Chicago, New York, and the upper Midwest, and plays drumset with the Jazz Avengers.

   Dr. Spencer received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Performance (Percussion) and studied with Dr. Terry Applebaum at Northwestern University. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature (Percussion) from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with John Beck. In addition, Eastman granted Dr. Spencer the Performers Certificate as a percussion soloist. 

   Dr. Spencer is a performing artist with Yamaha, Sabian, and Innovative Percussion.

Michael Huestis Mr. Michael Huestis is currently teaching at American Fork Junior and Senior High School. Michael received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas and a Master in Music Performance from Brigham Young University.
While at UNT Mr. Huestis performed with the 3 o'clock lab band, the Brazilian Ensemble, the Afro-Cuban Ensemble, the Steel Band, and the UNT Drumline.
At BYU, Mr. Huestis studied with Dr. Ron Brough and served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, directing the BYU Cougar Drumline and the BYU Latin-Jazz Ensemble.
Michael’s professional performance and teaching experience includes 5 years of Drum Corps (Including the Blue Devils), movie and television recording credits, the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, and numerous musicals. Michael arranges for drumlines throughout the Western United States including Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, Colorado State, and various high schools. The American Fork Percussion Ensemble received five superior ratings in 2004, performed at the Bands of America National Percussion Festival in 2003 and 2005; the drumline has gone undefeated in the Utah for the past three years and most recently performed at President Bush’s inaugural parade in Washington D.C. in 2005.
    Mr. Huestis is also an ethnic percussion specialist with training in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Steel Drum performance. Students from Mr. Huestis' private studio regularly receive superior ratings at State Solo and Ensemble, top honors at the Utah P.A.S. Day of Percussion, and competitive scholarship awards. Mr. Huestis is currently the President of the Utah Chapter of Percussive Arts Society and has hosted three Utah Day of Percussion Festivals in the last four years.

    Most recently, Michael was host and musical director of the Crescent Drum Festival, featuring guest artists Mike Spiro and Steve Smith. Steve Smith and the Crescent Faculty Percussion Ensemble debuted Michael’s arrangement of “The Perfect Date” as recorded by Vital Information. In addition to his numerous arranging credits, Mr. Huestis is also the author of the classroom text “Developing the Percussionist-Musician”, (Vol. 1 & 2)

Michael would like to thank Dynasty Drums, Vic Firth, Bert Murdock Music, and the American Fork Band Organization for their support and generosity.

You may contact Michael Huestis via email at  mhuestis@alpine.k12.ut.us

JAMES B. HARRISON is an Adjunct Faculty member teaching drum set at Boise State University and all percussion studies at Northwest Nazarene University, Albertson’s College of Idaho and Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, OR. He holds a BA in music/percussion from Murray State University (KY) and is completing work on his MA in music education at Boise State University (ID).

James is known as an extremely versatile performer, his diversity is well documented through his performances with such artist as Steve Miller, Arturo Sandoval, Bo Diddley, Bruce Willis, Gary Burton, Ernie Watts, Jon Faddis, Bill Watrous, Eric Marienthal, Randy Brecker, Jimmy Dorsey Band and The Boise Philharmonic. He cites drum duets (battles) with living legends Louie Bellson and Billy Cobham as two of the greatest honors in his life.  James also keeps a very active teaching schedule with approximately 60 students per week. He is also the current president of the Idaho Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.

James currently has Artist/Endorsement agreements with Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vater Drumsticks, Aquarian Drumheads and Grover Pro Percussion.

Visit his web-site: www.soundxpressions.com/artist/jamesharrison

DR. JOHN BALDWIN is Professor of Percussion and Music Theory at Boise State University, and has taught at the University of Wichita, Michigan State University, the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, and Lawrence University (in Appleton, Wisconsin).
He serves as a timpanist and principal percussionist with the Boise Philharmonic, and has served as principal percussionist with the Bear Valley Music Festival, Summerfest Orchestra and Band and the Treasure Valley Concert Band.

He appears regularly in solo and chamber music recitals, and has adjudicated and presented clinics throughout the Northwest.
He has written articles for the "Idaho Music Notes", the "Percussionist", "Woodwind World-Brass and Percussion", and the "Percussive Notes".  He formerly served as president of the Idaho Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and International News Editor for "Percussive News”.  He is an endorser for Sabian Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion and Mike Balter Percussion.

Benjamin Pursley

Benjamin has been hand drumming since 1991 and is a founding member of Drum Central. In addition to his work with the local band Nada Brahma, Benjamin enjoys teaching traditional Malinke djembe and dunun at Drum Central. Ben says what he enjoys most about drumming is merging traditional rhythmic theology with modern, progressive musical freedom. Ben also builds and repairs drums.

Ben has learned traditional African hand drumming from a variety of teachers including; Aliou Diop, Aidoo Holmes, Gordy Ryan, and the great master djembefolas; Ladji Camera, Mamady Keita and Famadou Konate. He is currently an apprentice to Mamady Keita who was with the National Ballet of Guinea for 26 years, and recently attended Mamady Keita's month long drumming camp in Guinea, West Africa. (Ben is looking forward to sharing some history and stories from my adventures in Africa.)

 Ben has taught traditional rhythms from Guinea, West Africa for more than 6 years. His main interest and background is on the djembe drum, with the traditional bass drum ensemble. Ben is also a professional performing and recording artist as well as a student of rhythm-a-culture. He currently plays djembe for traditional African dance classes and maintains a regular teaching schedule.