the official blog of the Percussive Arts Society

GRETSCH DRUMS 
140th Celebratory Concert at NYC’s The Cutting Room
Gretsch Drums announced Gretsch Night in New York City: a special one-night-only event to celebrate 140 years of Gretsch Drums history, featuring performances by drummers Mark Guiliana, Will Calhoun, Nate Wood, and Bill Stewart. The event will be held Tuesday, May 23. from 7–9 p.m. EDT at The Cutting Room in New York City and will be released on a limited edition vinyl album. For more information about this concert and to buy tickets visit eventbrite.com/e/gretsch-night-in-new-york-city-tickets-603991343367.

HIT LIKE A GIRL 
Partnership with POUND Fitness
Female advocacy organization Hit Like A Girl and fitness innovator POUND Fitness have teamed up to raise awareness and promote drumming and drumming-related activities as an ideal way to enhance physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

“Both of our organizations have realized the power that music and rhythm have to unlock something in us that makes us feel more connected, empowered and at home in our bodies. Hit Like a Girl does that through empowering young women to play drums and celebrating those that do, and POUND does that through fitness classes that allow participants to become the instrument and connect with their bodies and those around them.” says POUND Founder and CEO Kirsten Potenza. 

Hit Like A Girl and POUND recently came together for a kick-off event in Los Angeles that included a drumming-inspired, drumming-supported workout session, a performance by a mother-daughter drum duo, and the opportunity for attendees to have a hands-on drumming experience. The event concluded with an all-female panel discussion on the benefits of music and rhythmic movement on wellness that included a music therapist, professional drummer, and a wellness coach with a focus on body percussion. 

In addition, POUND is currently offering a free, 6-month membership for its “Backstage” on-demand exercise courses to all Hit Like A Girl contest participants as well as selling a specially-priced HLAGxPOUND Backstage bundle with all proceeds matched by POUND and going to support Hit Like A Girl’s outreach.

POUND and Hit Like A Girl indicated that these programs are just the first steps in establishing an ongoing relationship between the two organizations based on a unified mission to facilitate growth, empowerment, and a healthy lifestyle for girls and women around the world.

For more information, visit www.hitlikeagirlcontest.com and www.poundfit.com. 

ITALY PAS
Percussive Arts Web Contest
The Italy PAS Chapter has announced the 7th Percussive Arts Web Contest (PAWC) for Duo and Percussion Ensemble. Judges will be Gordon Stout, W. Lee Vinson, Naoko Takada, Nino Masayuki, She-e Wu, Pei-Ching Wu, Jeanni Zhang, Jingjing Li, Frederic Macarez, Dennis Kuhn, Nils Rohwer, Walter Mertens, Luigi Morleo, Claudio Santangelo, Tarcisio Molinaro, Maria Vittorio, Ivan Mancinelli, and Jessica and Vanessa Porter (Duo winners of the 1st edition).

One can participate by sending a link with a YouTube video of only one piece.

The Categories are: Category A. Duo (percussion solo); Category B. Duo (percussion and piano); Category C. Duo (percussion and any other instrument or voice — no piano; Category D. Percussion Ensemble from 3 to 6 percussionists; Category E. Percussion Ensemble from 5 percussionists onwards (for middle and secondary schools with musical orientation).

Age limit: Categories A, B, C, and D from 16 years up.  Category E 10–18 years.
Registration: www.italypas.it/project/pawcmoduloiscrizioneview/
Registration deadline: May 5
Video, fee, photo, and identity card or passport must be received by June 5.
Cash prizes €15,000.00 offered by Italy PAS.
Click here for rules: www.italypas.it

Italy Percussion Competition and Days of Percussion
The 20th edition of the Italy Percussion Competition and Days of Percussion festival will take place from August 28 to September 3 at the music conservatory L. D'Annunzio in Pescara. The competition is organized at two-yearly intervals: In 2023 the contest is for Marimba and Timpani. In 2024 the contest will be for Vibraphone (classic and jazz) and Snare Drum.

These artists will be present for Juries, Concerts and Masterclasses: Marimba: N. J. Živković,  Eric Sammut, Pei-Chin Wu, Tatiana Koleva, and Claudio Santangelo. Timpani: Nick Woud, Shiniti Ueno, and Claudio Romano.

Registration is open. Application and documents deadline is July 7. Registration fee: 100€. Click here for: Rules, Repertoire, Prizes: www.italypas.it

Age limit: Marimba and Timpani: Category A max. 19 years old; Category B 20–26 years old; Category C 27–36 years old.

Composition Contest
Italy PAS is also holding a composition contest. Judges will be John Psathas, Julie Spencer, Todd Ukena, Luigi Morleo, and Richard LeVan (HoneyRock public).

Registration is open. Deadline: July 7. Registration fee: 70€. No age limit.

Documentation and score must be sent to italypas@hotmail.it by August 1 2023 in pdf along with a copy of an identity document and copy of the entry fee. If sent through Wetransfer or Filemail, the full score should be in pdf (in format Sibelius, Finale, Encore).

Click here for Rules and Prizes: www.italypas.it

BILL PLATT SCHOLARSHIP
Former United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” (TUSAB) percussionist Bill Platt (1996–99) passed away on September 5, 2022.  He graduated from the Eastman School of Music and was one of the original members of “Vince’s Boys,” a group of four former TUSAB percussionists — Dick Ecton, Glenn Luedtke, Bill Platt and Gar Whaley — who served with legendary percussion group leader SGM Vince Battista.  Following his Army service, Bill returned to his native Cincinnati, Ohio and joined the Cincinnati Symphony, enjoying a 40-year career as principal percussionist.

“Vince’s Boys,” which has grown to include 12 former TUSAB percussionists — Ken Harbison, Bill Hinger, Joe Inman, Tom Kosik, Glenn Luedtke, Bill Messerschmidt, Mary Ecton (for her father), Bill Richards, Gary Rockwell, Gary Swiderski and Gar Whaley — has established a scholarship fund with the Percussive Arts Society in Bill’s name.  “Vince’s Boys” member Gar Whaley, a former President of PAS, helped arrange the scholarship. The initial endowment of over $3,000 ensures that a scholarship will be awarded each year to a talented student member of PAS from Bill’s state of Ohio.  Contributions can be made to the Bill Platt Scholarship and sent to: Percussive Arts Society, 110 W. Washington St. Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

PEARL CORPORATION
Musicians Making A Difference Scholarship Now Accepting Applications 
Pearl Corporation announced the opening of its third annual college scholarship, “Musicians Making A Difference,” which will award two $5,000 scholarships totaling $10,000 to high school musicians who have demonstrated the ability to impact change in themselves, their community, and those around them. 

"I am beyond grateful to have been selected a recipient of the 2022 Musicians Making a Difference Scholarship,” said Amy Hwang, 2022 Scholarship recipient. “The scholarship has been invaluable in paying for my college and conservatory education and has allowed me to focus on becoming a better musician and person. Thank you so much to Pearl Drums for supporting musicians who are passionate about giving back to their community!" 

A diverse panel of Pearl staff and artists will select recipients based on a student's contributions to their community and not their playing or vocal ability. The scholarship's objective is to reward and inspire the youth who will shape tomorrow. 

The application deadline is April 15, 2023. 

To learn more and apply for this scholarship, visit: https://pearldrum.com/en/about-pearl/scholarships.