Michael Udow and Edeta Arts Percussion Festival: A Match of Artistic Excellence

Michael Udow’s legacy in the world of percussion truly exemplifies the spirit of a legend. From hosting PASIC 1984 at the University of Michigan to his recent contributions to the Edeta Arts Percussion Festival, Udow has consistently nurtured the percussive arts. PASIC 1984 was the last of the Society’s conventions to be hosted on a college campus due in part to large attendance numbers and the increasing popularity of the event with performances that year by such world-renowned artists and pedagogues as NEXUS, Keiko Abe, Vinnie Colaiuta, Vida Chenoweth, Ralph Hardimon, Kroumata, Charlie Owen, Jim Campbell and the Phantom Regiment, and Salvatore Rabbio. 

Forty years later after countless performances, storied teaching, endless composition commissions, and awards such as the 2010 Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Lifetime Achievement in Education and 2022 PAS Hall of Fame, Udow continues to do more as evidenced by his recent involvement with Edeta Arts. The Edeta Arts Festival, facilitated by MCM Arts and its leadership of John Crozman, Dean Marshall, and Anthony Moore, is described as a yearly multidisciplinary festival of the arts that takes place in the Valencia, Spain and the surrounding area including the festival headquarters in the town of Llíria, designated as a UNESCO City of Music. 

Edeta Arts commissioned Udow to compose a series of works about his impressions of Llíria by highlighting the city’s history, culture, monuments, and commitment to music in daily life. All commissioned works were featured in a grand performance event entitled “Impressions of Llíria” in Llíria’s town plaza on July 6, 2024 featuring over 200 musicians from all over the world. Eight percussion ensembles and one steel drum band represented the United States and Europe in the performance of Udow’s culminating commissioned work entitled “Twelve Labors of Hercules” with the connection to Udow as directors of the ensembles were either former students or longtime colleagues. Other groups involved in this culminating work included a chorus, brass quintet, plucked string ensembles, and orchestra alongside narration, video, and dance. In addition to the overarching “Impressions of Llíria” performance, the Edeta Arts Percussion Festival coincided. 

The Edeta Arts Percussion Festival provided opportunities for the percussion ensembles and steel drum band to perform their own individual concerts in several venues around Valencia and Llíria from June 30 through July 6, 2024. Festival ensembles were from Bowling Green State University, Central Washington University, Colorado Mesa University, Ohio University, Superior Music Conservatori of València, Texas Tech University, University of Oregon, University of Wisconsin – Madison, and Western Washington University. Two other chamber ensembles performing at the festival included the Unprepared Duo featuring Roger Braun on percussion and André Gribou on piano and the Solar Duo featuring Michelle Camargo on clarinet and saxophone and Johanna Amaya on percussion. Many of the percussion festival events were held at the Superior Music Conservatori of València hosted by Professor Manel Ramada and included daily panel discussions by such performers and pedagogues as Roger Braun, Pius Cheung, Anthony Di Sanza, Darin Kamstra, Dan Piccolo, Lisa Rogers, and Patrick Roulet. There was also time during the festival for cultural immersion, coffee, and paella! In both 1984 and 2024, Michael Udow has facilitated opportunities for percussionists to grow and thrive not only as artists but more importantly individuals. He exemplifies the profound effect a pedagogue and artist can have across generations.  

2024 EDETA ARTS PERCUSSION FESTIVAL REPERTOIRE

Bowling Green State University Percussion Ensemble with Director Dan Piccolo
Program selected from the following:
 “Omphalo Centric Lecture” by Nigel Westlake 
“Movement III” from Rhythmetron by Marlos Nobre 
“Xingu River” from Aguas de Amazonia by Philip Glass/arr. by Third Coast Percussion
“The Atmos Clock” by Brian Nozny 
“Heaven We Need” by Robert Dillon 
“Catfish” by Mark Applebaum 
“No Matter How Fast You Run Today You Will Never Catch Up with Tomorrow” by Ron Tucker 
Personnel: Nicholas Bahr, Kyle Bergler, Anthony Douglas, Matthew Graves, Sarah Hertenstein, Kaitlynn Kamer, Jacob Kendall, Jacob Koch, Liam Lockhart, Kathryn Mahoney, Mason Marquette, Cadence Miller, Frank Sanzo, Tate Stewart, Eleanor Wisniewski, and Emma Zemancik

Central Washington University Alumni Percussion Quartet with Director/Composer Mark Goodenberger and Quartet Members Josh Gianola, Reese Rylan Maultsby, Chaiya D. Odle, and Thomas Snedecker 
Program selected from the following:
“Not What I Expected” for marimba quartet by Mark Goodenberger 
“Baboons on the Beach” for mallet quartet by Mark Goodenberger 
“Le Jardin de Monet” for marimba quartet by Mark Goodenberger 
“Budapest Romp” for marimba quartet by Mark Goodenberger 

Colorado Mesa University Percussion Ensemble with Director Darin Kamstra
Program selected from the following: 
“Scuttlebutt” by Jim Casella 
“Bombora” by Miles Bollman, Miranda Chaffin, Brian Holladay, Robert Reid, and Daniel Weaver 
“Ride on the Wings of Hope” by Daiki Kato 
“Shake” by Josh Gottry 
“La Cathédrale engloutie” by Claude Debussy/arr. Jacob Kight 
“Colorado River” by Darin Kamstra 
Personnel: Michael Beresford, Jake Blazer, Miles Bollman, Miranda Chaffin, Bowen Clement, Jordan Hanzl, Brian Holladay, Logan Howard, Kieren Magday, Jack Mitchell, Relena Mosley, Andrew Mueller, Robert Reid, Steven Scutt, and Dan Weaver

Ohio University Percussion Ensemble with Director Roger Braun
Program selected from the following:
“Fan Fare” by Roger Braun 
“Shadow Songs I” by Michael Udow 
“Mudondo” by Nakibembe Xylophone, Group of Uganda
“Movement 1” from Concerto for Vibraphone by Emmanuel Séjourné 
featuring Sam Lawrence, vibraphone
“Llano and Chonta” by Hugo Candelario and Antonio Arnedo/arr. Johanna Amaya
“Seville” by Roland Vazquez
“That Coisa” by Hermeto Pascoal/arr. Roger Braun 
“On Fire” by Michel Camilo/arr. Roger Braun 
Personnel: Sam Lawrence and Frances Zengel, assistant directors
André Gribou, piano
Percussion Personnel: Johanna Amaya, Nathan Andrews, Michelle Camargo, Isis Carpenter, Christian Contreras, Hannah Culver, Jacob Dickerson, Maria DiFrango, Mason Huston, Sam Lawrence, Brendan McBride, Casey Morarity, Dom O’Korn, Kaylie Paugh
Zeke Rosen, Ryan Russo, Kaitlyn Schwab, Nathaniel Shields, Daniel Swartz, Emily Swope, and Frances Zengel

Percussió Grup of the Superior Music Conservatori of València with Directors Manel Ramada, Miguel Angel Orero, and Juan Pablo Hellín
Program selected from the following: 
“Overture for 10 Percussionists” by R. Mas 
“El Amador” (“The Lover”) by T. Arboledas 
“Aire ritmico” (“Rhythmic air”) by S. León
“Spanish Dance No. 1” from La Vida Breve by M. de Falla/arr. M.Tomás 
“Cantata for América Mágica” by A. Ginastera 
Personnel: Victor Trescolí, Paula Tamarit, and Sergio Campayo, pianos and celesta
Inca Ripoll, vocalist
Percussion Personnel: Juan López, Miguel Barberà, Fran Navarro, Noel Sáez, Jose Augusto Gran, Miguel Calvo, Victor Pérez, Ferran Silla, Samuel Queralt, Pablo Garcia, Pablo Rubio, Lucia Pascual, Enric Cárcel, Joan Gómez, Arnau Ubierna, Alfredo Sarsa

Texas Tech University Steel Drum Band with members of the Texas Tech University Afro-Cuban Ensemble with Directors Lisa Rogers and Michael Mixtacki
Program selected from the following:
“Abandon” by Walt Hampton/arr. Aaron Smith 
“Chopped Sticks” by Euphemia Allen/arr. B. Weil 
“Loves Me Like A Rock” by Paul Simon/arr. Jeff Moore 
“One Love/People Get Ready” by Bob Marley & Curtis Mayfield/arr. Jeff Smith 
“Cha Cha Para Toda” by Victor Provost 
“Kodachrome” by Paul Simon/arr. Jeff Moore 
“Sloop John B.” by Traditional/adapted Brian Wilson/arr. Jeff Moore 
“All My Loving” by John Lennon & Paul McCartney/arr. Alex Fragiskatos 
“Sea of ​​Stories” by Andy Narell /percussion adapted by Michael Mixtacki 
“Margie” by Aldwyn Roberts “Lord Kitchener”/arr. Andy Narell 
Personnel: Markus Aguilar, Kyle Buentello, Taylor Burks, Taylor Caspell, Jacob Cauley, Anthony Flores, Javier Garza, Deonne Hearon, Elias Jordan, David Kath, Natalie Nance, Ryan Pound, and Mariah Taller

University of Oregon with Director Pius Cheung
Program selected from the following: 
“Heaven and Earth Suite” by Pius Cheung
“Tessellation” by Nathan Juarez 
“Verano Porteno” by Astor Piazzolla/arr. Pius Cheung 
“Pillar III” by Andy Akiho
“Jose/beFORe John5” by Aurel Hollo
Personnel: William Irish, Nathan Juarez, Logan Pearl, Miguel Sanchez, Thomas Snedeker, and Keegan Vaughan

University of Wisconsin – Madison Chamber and World Percussion Ensembles with Directors Anthony Di Sanza, Todd Hammes, and Thomas Ross
Program selected from the following:
Concerto for Darabukka and Percussion Quartet by Anthony Di Sanza 
featuring Matthew Schneider, darabukka 
“Sarau for Radamés” by Paulinho da Viola/arr. Anthony Di Sanza
“Fakhit Gamelan” Traditional/further adaptation by Matthew Schneider and Adina Shaikh
“Naked and on Fire” by Adam B. Silverman 
“Samba Batucada” Traditional/arr. Tom Ross
“III. Rondo” from Four Miniatures by Dave Alcorn 
Suite Norte Sul Leste Oeste” by Hermeto Pascoal/arr. Roger Braun
“Capivara” by Hermeto Pascoal/arr. Roger Braun
Personnel: Dylan Chapman, Joshua Dieter, Nathaniel Dreyfus, Ravlin Frantz, Ellis Goeden, Joshua Graham, Trevor Maliborski, Karelyn Malliet, Van Maxwell, Matthew Schneider, Kendal Schreiber, Alex Seitler, Adina Shaikh, Cadence Strahota, Aiden Trinkner, and Spencer Venancio

Western Washington University with Directors Patrick Roulet and Haley J. Nutt
Program selected from the following: 
“Toyama” by Michael Udow 
“Perception” by Alex Nelson 
“Refrakt” for Marimba Quartet by Andrea Venet 
“A Ceiling Full of Stars” by Blake Tyson 
“Epilogue” by William Bruce and Cameron Nielson 
Personnel: Lucas Webster, assistant conductor and Toby Bruce, ukulele soloist
Percussion Personnel: Jacob Anderson, Tyler Bateman, Graeme Bennett, Alex Bowmer, Toby Bruce, Mica Della Sala, Daniel Furry, Elias Gardner, Davis Juneau, Asa Morris, German Navarrete, Alex Nelson, Eli Porter, Owen Smith, Lucas Webster, and Zachary Ziontz

2024 EDETA ARTS PERCUSSION SCHEDULE
Sunday, June 30, 2024 
07:30 pm Special Pre-Festival Event – Unprepared Duo at the Llíria Conservatory

Monday, July 1, 2024 
09:00 am Opening Panel Discussion – Hand-Drumming in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV
Michael Udow: Introduction
Dan Piccolo: Tabla
Anthony Di Sanza: Darabukka/Frame Drums
12:00 pm Percussió Grup of the Superior Music Conservatori of València in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV
04:30 pm Western Washington University in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV
08:00 pm Ohio University/Colorado Mesa University/Bowling Green State University at Teatro Flumen, Valencia

Tuesday, July 2, 2024
09:00 am Panel Discussion – Dimensions of Music including Tone, Color, and Voicing Balances in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV
Darin Kamstra: Drumset – tone and balance
Pius Cheung: 5-octave Marimba – “5 dimensions of music”
12:00 pm University of Wisconsin – Madison in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV
04:30 pm Ohio University in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV
08:00 pm University of Oregon/Central Washington University/Texas Tech University at Teatro Flumen, Valencia

Wednesday, July 3, 2024
09:00 am Panel Discussion – Arranging for Vibraphone – in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV 
Lisa Rogers: Vibraphone Technique
Patrick Roulet: Arranging popular songs for vibraphone
Roger Braun: Jazz improvisation (assisted by André Gribou, piano)
12:00 pm Colorado Mesa University in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV 
12:45 pm Texas Tech University in Valencia Old Town 
04:30 pm Bowling Green State University in the Main Hall at the Valencia Conservatory-CSMV 
06:30 pm Solar Duo at Sala Clemente – Clemente Pianos Av. del Mestre Rodrigo, 3, Campanar, 46015 Valencia 
08:00 pm Western Washington University/University of Wisconsin – Madison Feat. Unprepared Trio at Teatro Flumen, Valencia 
   
Thursday, July 4, 2024
10:30 am University of Oregon at the Llíria Conservatory
12:00 pm Central Washington University at the Llíria Conservatory 
08:30 pm Edeta Arts Gala Concert – All Ensembles at Castell de Santa Pola, Alicante    

Friday, July 5, 2024
10:30 pm BRASSerie Quintet – Germany/ Horizon Choir – Canada/Solar Duo – USA at the Plaça de La Sang, Llíria

Saturday, July 6, 2024
10:00 pm Texas Tech University at the Plaça Major, Llíria
10:30 pm Michael Udow’s “Twelve Labors of Hercules” at the Plaça Major, Llíria Feat. over 200 local and International Musicians