Angela Kepley & Cheryl Okuda
Angela Kepley built and maintains a private teaching studio and ensemble program in the Chicagoland area. Angela also works as the percussion specialist at Lyons Township High School and Gurrie Middle School. She has served as President and Vice-President of the IL Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. Angela is published through C. Alan Publications and holds degrees from Millikin University in Music Education and Northern IL University in Percussion Performance. Angela endorses Marimba One instruments and mallets.
Cheryl Okuda began her dance training at the age of seven and has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, pointe, musical theater, and hip-hop. Cheryl has a minor in dance from Columbia College Chicago and was a dancer/choreographer/administrator of Chicago-based, Boom Crack! Dance Company for 10 years. Cheryl currently teaches dance to students in the Chicagoland area and additionally has nearly a decade of teaching experience as a licensed Early Childhood Educator.
Cheryl Okuda began her dance training at the age of seven and has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, pointe, musical theater, and hip-hop. Cheryl has a minor in dance from Columbia College Chicago and was a dancer/choreographer/administrator of Chicago-based, Boom Crack! Dance Company for 10 years. Cheryl currently teaches dance to students in the Chicagoland area and additionally has nearly a decade of teaching experience as a licensed Early Childhood Educator.
(Manipulation) by Brian Wach for Percussion and Dancer
Session Description:
Angela and Cheryl will recreate the little known piece for percussion and dancer by Brian Wach for PASIC 2025. We believe this piece is an interesting and important connect between sound and movement, and holds and underlying importance for us to recognize as human beings.
Please see thoughts from the composers here:
“(Manipulation)” was written by Brian Wach for Angela Kepley to premiere at her first year graduate recital. It has been a pleasure working with her and dancer, Cheryl Okuda, in the synthesis of this experience.
The title of this piece is in parentheses, because it is not truly the ‘title’, but rather, a subtext of the piece. Reason being, manipulation exists as the foundation of the work in regards to both program and composition. For example, we are all surrounded by unjust forms of manipulation that are hidden from the antics of everyday life. This inspired the metaphor of a dismal attic where a puppet is often thrashed and controlled by its malevolent master. Lastly, this vision was realized with a dancer representing the puppet and percussionist as the master. From a compositional perspective, the process of manipulation was used predominantly in deriving much of the melodic and rhythmic material. In fact, a majority of the piece is built on alterations of two forerunning collections of pitches.
“(Manipulation)” was written by Brian Wach for Angela Kepley to premiere at her first year graduate recital. It has been a pleasure working with her and dancer, Cheryl Okuda, in the synthesis of this experience.
The title of this piece is in parentheses, because it is not truly the ‘title’, but rather, a subtext of the piece. Reason being, manipulation exists as the foundation of the work in regards to both program and composition. For example, we are all surrounded by unjust forms of manipulation that are hidden from the antics of everyday life. This inspired the metaphor of a dismal attic where a puppet is often thrashed and controlled by its malevolent master. Lastly, this vision was realized with a dancer representing the puppet and percussionist as the master. From a compositional perspective, the process of manipulation was used predominantly in deriving much of the melodic and rhythmic material. In fact, a majority of the piece is built on alterations of two forerunning collections of pitches.
Session Category:
- New Music/Research
Date:
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Time:
5:00 PM
Location:
Room 120
Session Type:
New Music/Research Presents
Session Format:
Live
