PAS News

2013 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

maltizer — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:21:54 GMT

The Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame will induct four top percussionists during the 39^th Annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) from November 13-16, 2013. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring the four newest members, will be held Thursday, November 14, 2013 before the PASIC Thursday Evening Concert at the Indianapolis Convention Center. The Class of 2013, featuring four important figures who have shaped the percussion world through their innovations, performances and scholarly work, includes:

Clifford Alexis is internationally recognized within the Steel Pan community for his generous contributions as a performer, composer, arranger, tuner, builder and educator. Born in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and playing in various steelbands since age 14, Alexis has performed all over the world for such luminaries as Queen Elizabeth II, the Emperor of Ethiopia and President Senghor of Senegal. Moving to the United State in 1965, Alexis became an important educator and clinician, ultimately becoming co-director of the internationally acclaimed Northern Illinois University Steelband.

Harold Jones is a prolific jazz drummer noted for his straight ahead style of playing during the big band era. Jones has performed with many of the top names in the jazz industry throughout his illustrious career; including Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra and many others, in addition to many symphony orchestras around the world. He performed on six albums that received fourteen Grammy Awards.

Dr. Gary Olmstead is a highly-regarded percussion educator who built the Indiana University of Pennsylvania percussion studio from a nascent program to a leading educational organization that has placed alumni in many top university teaching positions, orchestras, military bands, and music industry positions. He has performed with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra and recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Lorin Maazel. Olmstead has served in many positions within the Percussive Arts Society, including President of PAS for five years.

Salvatore Rabbio is a noted world-class performer, clinician and educator. He served as principal timpanist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1958 until his retirement in 1998, touring and recording extensively with the world’s greatest conductors and many top record labels. Holding instructor positions at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan, Rabbio has witnessed many of his students finding employment by major symphonies and universities around the world.

PAS Executive Director Jeff Hartsough stated “It is my privilege and distinct honor to announce the latest inductees into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. This is the society’s highest form of recognition of outstanding accomplishment and artistic contributions to the world of percussion. They will join a select group of only 111 percussionists chosen to receive this honor since its inception in 1972”

The Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame was established in 1972 to recognize the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion performance, education, research, scholarship, administration, composition and the industry. Inductees demonstrate the highest ideals and professional integrity to their profession to bring about significant events, substantive improvements in the world of percussion, and the betterment of the profession through exemplary services or acts.

PAS Offices Closed

maltizer — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 08:15:16 GMT

The PAS Offices will be closed today, June 11, due to building maintenance. We plan to reopen tomorrow morning, June 12, at 8am Eastern Standard Time.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank You

PAS Staff

Student Delegate Program

maltizer — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:43:56 GMT

Percussive Arts Society is looking for highly motivated university students seeking to become more involved in the percussion community, while gaining valuable leadership experience. Become a PAS Student Delegate! Delegates are the liaisons between student percussionists and the leadership of PAS, playing a vital role in our efforts to better serve university percussion students. The delegates receive various materials from PAS to post around their music school and campus, including upcoming Days of Percussion, scholarship/competition reminders, and other materials, while also encouraging fellow students to join.

Learn More About Becoming a Student Delegate

In Memoriam: Ed Shaughnessy

hhenry — Sat, 25 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Jazz drummer Ed Shaughnessy died on May 24, 2013.

Read the full Memoriam.

PAS Website Advertising Opportunity

maltizer — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:22:18 GMT

Percussive Arts Society would like to introduce a new advertising opportunity for our industry supporters and friends. Starting in July 2013, PAS is opening select areas of our popular pas.org and PASIC pages for advertising. With this new advertising structure, joining our popular e-mail newsletter and publications advertising advantages, PAS has created more chances to connect with your target market. Website ads will include 468x60 Full Banner, 160x600 Skyscraper, and 180x150 Rectangle banner sizes and 23 rotating locations on the most trafficked pages throughout the PAS/PASIC websites.

PAS will release ad pricing and ad placement locations on June 3 through the pas.org website, opening the opportunity to reserve your July website advertising. And, as a limited time offer, PAS is currently running a special for July web advertising. All advertisers who reserve and place a print ad in the July Percussive Notes publication, will receive a rectangle advertisement within the PAS website FOR FREE (tier II locations only). CONTACT US to reserve your spot in the July Percussive Notes edition and receive your free web ad for July. Deadline for the free July web ad offer is May 27.

PAS Announces 2013 President's Industry Award

maltizer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:46:07 GMT

Every year, the Percussive Arts Society bestows awards to individuals and chapters within the Society who represent the continual growth of the organization’s mission of promoting percussion education, research, performance and appreciation throughout the world. The PAS President’s Industry Award was established to recognize those individuals in the Percussion Industry who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their field and outstanding support of the Society. Percussive Arts Society is pleased to announce Steve Weiss as the 2013 recipient of the President’s Industry Award.

Steve Weiss has developed an unparalleled career in the percussion industry and displayed unceasing support of PAS. His career began in the music industry over 50 years ago by building strong relationships with the top percussionists on the East coast. Throughout the years, his company - Steve Weiss Music - has established a reputation as the ‘go-to shop’ for all percussion needs around the globe.

John R. Beck, President of PAS, wrote, “Steve Weiss Music has been an invaluable resource for helping percussionists raise their level of performance for six decades providing instruments, music, and mallets to thousands of professionals, students, educators, and enthusiasts.”

“I’ve known Steve through the years as a customer, retail competitor, product manufacturer, and most recently as a resource for and supporter of the Percussive Arts Society,” stated Executive Director Jeff Hartsough. “He’s been through it all and has always been there to support the drummers and percussionists of the world providing an endless array of instruments and educational materials. There’s no one who better deserves the 2013 President’s Industry Award and the Percussive Arts Society is proud to present it to him.”

Steve Weiss will be honored as the President’s Industry Award recipient at the PASIC 2013 awards presentation on Friday evening, November 15 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

New Leedy Drum Company Exhibit at Rhythm!

maltizer — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:54:04 GMT

On May 11, 2013, the Rhythm! Discovery Center presents interactive drumming programs and offers free admission for all attendees in celebration of the grand opening of the Center’s new exhibit, Drums From the Circle City: The Leedy Drum Company from 1895-1930.

This interactive exhibit explores the rich history of the Indianapolis-based Leedy Drum Manufacturing Company and showcases the importance of percussion and manufacturing in Indianapolis at the turn of the 20th Century. The beginning of the Leedy Drum Company was a notable chapter in the history of Indianapolis and an integral slice in the history of the music industry, creating many innovations that still drive the drum and percussion industry today.

Rhythm! Discovery Center details the influence of the Leedy Company through archival photos, videos and sound recordings, as well as interactive displays highlighting some of the company’s first catalogs and magazines. A number of Leedy instruments manufactured in Indianapolis will be on display, both from our permanent collection and those generously loaned by the Leedy family and drum historian and Indianapolis resident, Harry Cangany. Drums From the Circle City will be on display until April, 2014.

“We are excited to bring such a relevant exhibit to the city of Indianapolis, which focuses on a snapshot into the city’s diverse musical and industrial history,” stated Executive Director Jeff Hartsough. “From this unique perspective, The Leedy exhibit appeals to all ages, musicians and non-musicians alike. We invite the entire community to the Rhythm! Discovery Center to have a fun, educational, and hands on experience.”

The May 11 opening of Rhythm!’s Drums From the Circle City exhibit intersects with the Get Down On It grand opening celebration of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a world-class urban bike and pedestrian path that connects Indianapolis’ cultural districts. To celebrate both occasions, Rhythm! will feature Indianapolis high school students performing on repurposed percussion instruments on the Trail in front of the Center as well as interactive drum circles inside the museum throughout the day. As an added bonus, admission to the Center will be free for the day so the community may celebrate Indianapolis’ rich history.

The schedule for Saturday, May 11 at the Center is:
10am-5pm: Free admission to Rhythm! Discovery Center
11am-11:45am: Drum circle inside the Center
Noon-12:45pm: Rhythm! repurposed percussion ensemble performance on Cultural Trail in front of the Center
1:30pm-2pm: Rhythm! repurposed percussion ensemble performance on Cultural Trail in front of the Center
4pm-4:30pm: Drum circle inside the Center

About Rhythm! Discovery Center
Rhythm! Discovery Center is the world’s foremost percussion museum providing innovative programs; interactive, standards-based educational exhibits; and artist performances. Drawing upon cultures from around the world, the Center offers a unique, engaging experience to explore the universality of rhythm and percussion and its role in shaping communication, music, art, performance and society. Walking through the visually captivating exhibit rooms and performance venue, guests are invited to fulfill their dreams of being a percussionist. Rhythm! Discovery Center welcomes you to make your own music and Find Your Rhythm! The Center was recently announced as a top 10 ‘Great Place for Hands-On Music Making’ by USA TODAY.

Announcing the 2013 Marching Percussion Composition Contest

maltizer — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:13:09 GMT

Established to promote and recognize the highest level of marching percussion composition. Rotating categories to include Drumline, Battery and Front Ensemble. Winning Compositions will be published by Tapspace Publications.

Click HERE to learn more about this year's contest and to apply.

PAS is NOW accepting applications for PAS Committee Membership

maltizer — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:00:00 GMT

PAS is accepting applications for PAS Committee Memberships from April 1–May 31, 2013.

Click here for more information.

In Memoriam: Robert Zildjian

jfeustel — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Robert (Bob) Zildjian, founder of Sabian cymbal company, died on March 28, 2013.

Read the full memoriam.

PAS Plans Exciting Digital Publication

maltizer — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:27:46 GMT

I am pleased to announce that beginning in January 2014, PAS will join the ranks of other publishers and produce Percussion News exclusively as an enhanced digital publication. After months of research and testing with our current print and online publications (including discussions with our Board of Directors and Past Presidents) we have determined that this change will allow PAS to offer members more information in each issue by embedding links to audio and video, manufacturer websites, and other digital media that simply can't be duplicated in a print publication.

Today a majority of our members receive PAS publications solely online through the ePAS membership. This change will allow us to enhance Percussion News for everyone while maintaining the ability to download and print the newsletter for those who wish to read or save it in paper form. We can offer more information at less cost in an environmentally responsible manner.

As you renew your membership in 2013, you will receive information about this change to Percussion News. Our other publication, Percussive Notes, will remain available in print and as a digital edition. If you have not viewed the digital version of Percussive Notes, I encourage you to take a look at pas.org and see what we are currently doing with digital publications, and imagine what the future may hold for sharing information in the Percussive Arts Society.

John R. Beck
President, Percussive Arts Society
Opportunity, Discovery, Community, Quality & Service

PAS 2013 Fall Internship

maltizer — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:45:05 GMT

Percussive Arts Society is seeking applicants for our six-month internship program beginning in July 2013. All percussion students who wish to gain music industry experience and promote career goals are encouraged to apply. The Fall intern will work closely with the PAS Director of Event Production and Marketing on artist and manufacturer relations and will be an integral part of the team that organizes PASIC 2013 in Indianapolis.

Deadline to apply is May 10, 2013.

In Memoriam: Bill Crowden

hhenry — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:19:00 GMT

William F. “Bill” Crowden, a member of the percussion industry for over 50 years, died at the age of 81. Crowden began working at Frank’s Drum Shop in Chicago in 1957 and six years later opened Drums Ltd. on Wabash Avenue.

Read the full memoriam.

PAS Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations

maltizer — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Percussive Arts Society Lifetime Achievement Award in Education was established in 2002 and recognizes the contributions of the most highly regarded leaders in percussion education. Nominees must have demonstrated the highest ideals and professional integrity in percussion education and pedagogy with a significant history of exceptional and/or innovative teaching practices. Nominees will have strong reputations in areas such as (but not limited to) private teaching, ensemble directing, presentation of workshops, and pedagogical publications. Deadline for nomination is August 1, 2013.

Learn More Here

Sabian/PASIC Canadian Scholarship Deadline

maltizer — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Sabian/PASIC 2013 Scholarship is a special opportunity for the university percussionists in Canada. The scholarship recipient will receive transportation to the convention city, four nights hotel accommodation, PASIC 2013 Registration, a PASIC 2013 souvenir T-Shirt, and a one year PAS Membership. Scholarship will not exceed $1,500CDN. To be eligible for the Sabian/PASIC 2013 Scholarship, an applicant must be a Canadian full-time university undergraduate (Percussion Major).

Learn more about the application process and turn in all material to the listed address by May 15, 2013.