Type to enter text
Pictured here is my full tour poster for my International Tour 2017, which publicizes all the events which include Chicago, Portugal, California, and Brazil, and all notable sponsors. Of particular importance to the success of this project was the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance at the University of Minnesota Morris for funding my trip to Portugal. Thank you!
Pictured here I am performing “Blue Line� by Marta Ptaszynska for the composer herself, and shortly after lecturing and working with her composition students at the University of Chicago. It was a sincere honor to have such an up close and personal experience with such an iconic and important composer in percussion history. She was also very friendly and a lot of fun!
 
Pictured here I am with Marta Ptaszynska and her composition students at the University of Chicago directly after my performance and lecture. Her students were thinking on a very high level, were very creative and motivated, and had some very interesting and challenging questions for me!
 
Pictured here is Marta Ptaszynska, myself, and my girlfriend Agus, shortly after lunch and a great long conversation (mixing the languages of english, spanish, and polish!)
 
Pictured here is Marta Ptaszynska, myself, and one of her serious composition students at the University of Chicago directly after my performance and lecture.
 
Several days and several long flights later, here I am in Portugal all set up and prepared for my solo percussion concert at the University of Aveiro, in Aveiro Portugal!
Pictured here is the publicity poster for my drumset clinic in Portugal, which was sponsored by SABIAN, the Castanheira music store, and the University of Aveiro.
 
A very nice shot of Maria Teixeira (director of percussion studies at the University of Aveiro) and the SABIAN representatives from Portugal directly after my drum set clinic in Portugal. Thank you SABIAN, VIC FIRTH, Castanheira music store, and the University of Aveiro for creating a great event!
 
From Portugal, I flew to California for the next step of the tour. Part of my goal this year was to find a substantial outlet to allow myself to grow as an artist and connect with other mentors and master players who greatly surpass me in experience and artistic achievement. The goal was certainly achieved by learning from the great Polish marimbist Katarzyna Mycka. The week was high energy, full of kindness, eager for deep music making, and even carried a magical essence sure to be kept in the memory.
 
Pictured here I am surrendering my ego to take some intense guidance and constructive criticism from the great Katarzyna Mycka (whom I have listened to on recording since I first started learning the marimba!) After 5 years of teaching and touring as a professional artist it felt great to feel like a student again! Above all, we had a lot of fun in private lessons and she almost succeeded in calming my rock drummer approach to the marimba!‌. (Just kidding!)
Pictured here at Humboldt State University during Katarzyna’s Academy week performing for the faculty and students. Pieces I performed included “Blue Line” by Marta Ptaszynska, “Il Legno a la Parola” by Salvatore Sciarrino, and of course, my original compositions that mix marimba with progressive rock.
 
Companionship and the forming of soon-to-be life-long friends is, and always was, a big part of Kaska’s vision in the experience of this academy. Pictured here students from 6 different countries are sharing a meal together!
Pictured here we are performing “Always Never Again” by Jerrod Cagwin during one of the Academy concerts at the Arcata Playhouse. It was a beautiful opportunity to work with other devoted young percussion artists from Sweden, Columbia, and Canada.
 
The dramatic farewell (which included a lot of both laughter and tears!) of the VIII International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy, pictured here after a spirited final concert at the Arcata Playhouse in Arcata California (home of Marimba One!)
 
After a nice long vacation with my family and girlfriend, it was time to begin the last major International event of my tour this year: the VII International Percussion Festival of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil! The festival included many other groups and artists from around Brazil, and the well known Grupo Tamborimba from Columbia! I was to present two events: a drumset clinic, and my solo percussion concert, which, as always, included both repertoire pieces and my original compositions that mix drumkit, marimba, contemporary music and progressive rock.
Pictured here performing my solo percussion concert at the International Percussion Festival in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Pieces performed included “Blue Line” by Marta Ptaszynska, “Toccata” by Anna Ignatowicz, “Character #2” by Casey Cangelosi, as well as my original compositions “Las Ardillas”, “Solitary Conciousness”, “Snowfall and Wisps of Smoke”, and “Refreshing, Glorious, Arrival”. Of particular impact this evening was a heartfelt dedication of “Toccata” to the passing of my girlfriend’s father, Juan Domingo Stremel.
 
My view after set up and sound check for my drum clinic at the FoxTrot music store at the Bela Vista shopping center in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil during the festival. Here we go!
 
A friendly shot taken after my drum clinic in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The language barrier created some challenge during the clinic, but thanks to my translator, and (hopefully) some inspiring performances and demonstrations I provided, the language of music prevailed and the event was a great success. Smiles were plentiful after the clinic, and thank you SABIAN and VIC FIRTH for helping to make this event a success!
Pictured here I am with one of my FAVORITE percussion groups from South America, and one of the STARS of the festival this year…. GRUPO TAMBORIMBA!
 
Here is a great group shot after a very informative orchestral percussion and timpani clinic from Marcia Fernandez, the principal timpanist from the Opera Orchestra of Sao Paulo. One certainty is that an orchestral percussion teacher/ player always has more to learn from the various ways different cultures and parts of the world interpret the traditional techniques and the orchestral classics.
A glorious final group shot at the end of the International Percussion Festival of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Truly a memorable and high energy mix of cultures, sharing, artistic expression, and most of all, companionship. Here’s to next year!