A place for long form talk with percussionists and other compelling people.
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Pete Zambito Podcasts
University of Tennessee-Knoxville Adjunct Professor of Percussion Mike Mixtacki stops by to talk about his new gig, his many jobs in the college world so far, and connecting to the Eastern Tennessee percussion community (02:10), growing up in Madison (WI), his percussion and piano background, earning his Eagle Scout badge, and playing in lots of ba…
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New York City-based freelancing percussionist and educator Shelby Blezinger-McCay stops by to talk about her job activities, moving to NY from grad school, and her experiences work with So Percussion (03:00), subbing for Broadway shows, NYC transit, and visiting Long Island (23:00), growing up near Dallas, her DCI years, and playing tennis (37:50),…
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Minot State University (ND) Percussion Professor Mariah Taller stops by to talk about her job and getting acclimated to the community there (02:35), her doctoral research on Julie Spencer (21:35), growing up in South Bend (IN), her early experiences in large ensembles, learning marimba concerti, and swimming in high school (32:00), attending Depauw…
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Nicholls State University (LA) Percussion Professor Gustavo Miranda stops by to talk about his job and his freelancing in the Louisiana area (02:35), the Ninkasi Quartet (18:10), growing up in Brazil, his early music background on guitar, his experiences playing soccer and surfing, and heavy metal (26:10), his undergrad musical experiences in Brazi…
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Assistant Professor of Percussion at Temple College/Texas A&M University-Central Texas Nathan Siegel stops by to talk about his unusual position at these schools, his social media presence, his travel schedule during previous years, and the need to be versatile in the profession (03:45), growing up in Fort Worth (TX), getting into percussion, his d…
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Southern Oregon University Percussion Professor Terry Longshore stops by to talk about his job at the University, building a program, and his very active chamber and freelancing performance career (02:35), growing up in Fresno (CA) and his early background on a variety of instruments (32:20), attending Fresno State University for his first undergra…
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Northwestern University (IL) Professor of Percussion She-e Wu returns to talk about staying at the University of North Texas to attend grad school and study composition (01:45), teaching and performing out of grad school, and her year teaching at the University of West Virginia (09:45), her decade teaching at Rutgers (NJ), building up the facilitie…
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Percussionist, Performer, Freelancer, Educator, Composer, Instrument Designer, Clinician, and Director of Percussion Studies at Northwestern University (IL) She-e Wu stops by to talk about position at the university, getting the job, and how her passion for music and teaching fuels her career (04:30), what it takes to be performance ready at all ti…
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Percussionist, Freelancer, Entrepreneur, Arts Administrator, and Assistant Dean for Professional Development and Personal Engagement at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Kristen Klehr stops by to talk about her college teaching, creating one’s own arts ecosystem, and performing “Athletic Percussion” (03:25), growing up in Binghamton (NY), her…
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Fort Zumwalt West (MO) Percussion Director and Chapter President for the Missouri Percussive Arts Society Neil Flannigan stops by to talk about his teaching position (03:25), the MOPAS Presidency (21:40), growing up in STL, his percussion and guitar background, the band Rush, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, and working at Dierberg’s Grocery Store (…
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Composer, Performer, Educator, Missouri PAS Treasurer, and Academic and Administrative Coordinator for the Music Department at Washington University (MO) Jessie Flannigan stops by to talk about how she manages and is successful with her large workload and schedule (03:35), all things Missouri PAS and updating the Prescribed Music List (16:35), grow…
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Composer, Percussionist, and Educator Michael Udow returns to talk about his year in Poland for a Fulbright Fellowship and what life was like there in the early 1970s (01:55), his path to getting to Michigan (including teaching at UMKC) and how he further developed an excellent program at Ann Arbor (11:55), and finishes with the Random Ass Question…
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Composer, Percussionist, and Retired Professor of Percussion from the University of Michigan Michael Udow stops by to talk about “reassignment”, living in Colorado and staying in good physical and mental shape, letting go of regularly performing on percussion, and his compositional career (03:35), growing up in Detroit, Wichita and Pennsylvania, sw…
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Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 453 - Terry Gibbs (with Damon Grant of Discussions in Percussion)
Alongside fellow podcaster Damon Grant from Discussions in Percussion, we interview vibraphonist, drummer, and bandleader Terry Gibbs about the Dream Band and Terry Pollard (05:30), an eventual interview introduction, his autobiography, and his early life and career (09:45), the beginnings of bebop and his work on Latin Jazz music (21:00), hanging …
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Washington State University Professor of Percussion, Assistant Professor of Music, Marching Band Drumline Director, and recording artist Christopher Wilson stops by to talk about his recently released album of David Maslanka’s marimba solos called A Solemn Music (03:10), his job at WSU and recruiting in that part of the state (25:25), growing up in…
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Northern Illinois University Director of Steel Pan Studies, as well as Performer, Educator and Composer Liam Teague stops by to talk about his job, how he came to NIU in the 1990s, writing and arranging for steel drum ensemble, working with non-majors, and musical preparation (03:20), his musical upbringing in Trinidad & Tobago, the importance of t…
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Pete's Percussion Podcast: Third Coast Percussion Month Concludes! - Episode 450 with Robert Dillon
Third Coast Percussion Month concludes with Ensemble Member and Development Director Robert Dillon, who stops by to talk about the early years for the group, his previous jobs and his orchestral career prior to TCP going full time (02:45), the importance of grant writing and his version of the Glenn Kotche story (21:20), bringing in Peter Martin an…
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Pete's Percussion Podcast: Third Coast Percussion Month continues! - Episode 449 with Peter Martin
Third Coast Percussion Month continues! We celebrate their 20th Anniversary as an ensemble with Ensemble Member and Finance Director Peter Martin, who discusses their current season and collaborations, the importance of non-artistic roles for the group, the early years financially and artistically, and being able to go full-time (02:10), the Glenn …
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Third Coast Percussion Month Continues! Ensemble Member, Technical Director, and Education Director Sean Connors stops by to talk about joining TCP, learning from early gigs, administrative challenges, and his version of the Glenn Kotche story (02:15), growing up in Bergen County (NJ), getting into percussion, and his experiences playing ultimate f…
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Third Coast Percussion Executive Director and performer David Skidmore stops by to talk about TCP’s early years, how they booked gigs in the early days and finding their current Chicago home (05:00), becoming a non-profit, their Artist-in-Residence Program and getting more administrative help for the group (24:30), the camaraderie among the members…
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Executive Director for the Symphony of the Mountains Orchestra, Percussionist, Freelancer, and Educator Cassidy Lester stops by to talk about her work with the Symphony (03:05), her freelancing and teaching and how important performing is to her mental health (16:30), growing up in the Tri-Cities region of Tennessee, traveling with family to jam ba…
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2025 University of Missouri Master of Music in Percussion Performance graduate Luke Haymon stops by to talk about his final master’s recital (03:55), studying outside of percussion at Mizzou, including conducting with Dr. Christian Noon and piano tuning from Lucy Urlacher (14:15), his overall percussion activities here, including his role as assist…
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University of Illinois Percussion Professor Josh Graham returns to talk about his post-master’s degree years in Michigan and taking non-music opportunities to make it work (02:15), moving to Chicago, getting his doctorate at the University of Illinois, getting more fully into chamber music, and his time teaching at the University of Northern Iowa (…
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Freelancer, Performer, and Director of Percussion Activities at the University of Illinois Josh Graham stops by to talk about his work with the F PLUS chamber trio (04:55), his job at Illinois and replacing legends there (19:20), growing up near Detroit, getting into percussion, and the novels of William Faulkner (38:30), his undergrad years at the…
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North Carolina Central University Percussion Professor, Freelancer, Bandleader, and Composer Thomas Taylor stops by to talk about his career so far at NCCU (03:25), the music program and jazz program there and its place in the state (16:50), his freelancing career (33:40), growing up in Elizabeth City (NC), his early life in percussion, and playing…
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Sabian Cymbal Company National Director of Sales and Education for Music Schools and Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band drumline Mark Reynolds returns to talk about growing up in Columbus, OH, his early days playing percussion, and rolling skating and bowling as a young man (03:30), going to Ohio State for undergrad (18:40), gettin…
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Sabian Cymbal Company National Director of Sales and Education for Music Schools and Director of the Ohio State University Marching Band drumline Mark Reynolds stops by to talk about his Sabian job, the school rewards program, and folks who professionally represent Sabian well (03:45), the Ohio State drumline job, updating the sound and look of the…
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U.K.-based percussionist, session musician and performer Joby Burgess stops by to talk about all things session musician work and his career in chamber music (03:00), his album A Percussionist’s Songbook (42:20), growing up in western England, his piano background, and his time as a university student at the Guildhall School (54:30), and finishing …
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Washburn University (KS) Percussion Professor, Composer, and Performer Von Hansen stops by to talk about his recent album Mortal Coil (03:15), his Percussion and Composition job at Washburn (16:05), growing up in Topeka and the wide array of musical experiences of his early life (25:30), going to Washburn for undergrad and studying with Tom Morgan …
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U.S. Army’s Pershing’s Own Ceremonial Band Percussionist Brian Blume stops by to talk about his military music job and his work with TapSpace Publications (02:35), his composition history (22:25), growing up in Indiana with music director parents, and his piano and sports background (30:30), attending Indiana University for undergrad and his drum c…
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Solo Percussionist, Author, Conductor, and longtime Director of Percussion at the University of California-San Diego Steven Schick stops by to talk about the UCSD program, teaching doctoral students, and the art of performing on percussion in the 21st century (02:25), growing up in northern Iowa, his jazz drumset influences, sailing in high school,…
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Appalachian State University Percussion Professor Brady Spitz stops by to talk about his position at the school, what it’s like to teach in the mountains, and the various natural disasters he’s lived through (02:40), growing up in Colorado, his background playing in bands and performing in the pit in musicals, and his sports background (32:00), his…
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Colorado State University Percussion Professor Eric Hollenbeck returns to talk about playing sports in high school and more about percussion sound concepts (01:30) his college undergrad and graduate career and studying with Michael Burritt and Tom Siwe (18:40), a discussion of his first teaching job at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (37:20…
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Colorado State University (CSU) Director of Percussion Studies Eric Hollenbeck stops by to talk about his job at CSU and the facilities at the school (03:15), how CSU fits in with other music programs in the state, the students of today, the influence of drum corps, recruiting, and audiences we play for (19:30), and growing up in upstate New York, …
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Percussionist, Educator, Freelancer, and Psychologist Marcia McCants stops by to talk about her Adjunct Percussion Instructor position at Virginia State University and going to England to get her Master of Psychology degree (02:30), living and studying in England (19:50) growing up in California and Virginia, having a musical family, and getting in…
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Sandbox Percussion co-founder, Percussionist, Freelancer and Educator Ian Rosenbaum stops by to talk about the origins of the group, early performances, group management, and dealing with inventory (02:40), how Sandbox develops relationships with composers and their connections to Só Percussion and Third Coast Percussion (22:20), the rehearsal and …
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Solo Percussionist and Educator Eriko Daimo stops by to discuss her career as a percussion soloist, her teaching at Juilliard and NYU, and the nature of arranging for marimba (02:45), growing up in Japan, traveling around the world, her piano background and experiences in wind ensemble (38:05), her undergrad years at the Aichi Prefectural Universit…
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Northern Illinois University (NIU) Instructor of Percussion and Director of Percussion Studies at the College of DuPage (IL) Ben Wahlund stops by to talk about his teaching at both universities, the role of instructor/lecturer vs. professor, and PAS experiences (03:15), his compositional career and the Mile Marker Zero project (29:30), growing up a…
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New York City-based Percussionist, Educator and Author Daniel Glass stops by to talk about his musical activities (03:40), the beginnings of his career in NYC and dealing with issues of gear for gigs (10:45), growing up in Honolulu (HI), his eclectic musical background, moving to Boston (MA) and eventually making his way to Los Angeles (CA) (29:30)…
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University of Alabama Percussion Professor and Epoch Percussion Quartet member Andrew Lynge stops by to talk about his job at Alabama and working through the pandemic (02:15), his percussion ensemble performing at PASIC twice in the last few years (18:45), Epoch Percussion (25:10), growing up near Dallas (32:00), going the Texas A&M-Commerce for un…
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Percussionist, Performer, and Educator Olivia Cirisan stops by to chat about performing Ancel Fitzgerald Neeley’s “37 across 39 down” at PASIC 2024 (03:15), her master’s program at the University of Michigan and her responsibilities and work with chamber duos and gamelan (16:40), growing up (mostly) in Frankenmuth, Michigan, her piano and percussio…
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Percussive Arts Society Diversity Alliance Chair and Percussionist and Educator Elizabeth DeLamater returns to discuss all things Diversity Alliance that occurred at PASIC 2024 (03:15), the state of diversity items and initiatives in 2024 (18:15), and an update on items in her personal and professional world, including working at the University of …
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Percussionist, Composer, Freelancer, and Educator Melissa Wang stops by to talk about her PASIC 2024 performance of Kate Neal’s “Self-Accusation” (03:10), her percussion activities and responsibilities throughout the Chicago Metro area (21:50), growing up in Chicago, her early musical experiences, and her extracurricular activities, including her p…
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University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) Percussion Professor Kathryn Irwin stops by to talk about her 2024 Virtual PASIC performance of Joe W. Moore III’s “Is This Madness?” (04:55) and her performance with percussion quartet Without Borders at the 2024 In-Person PASIC (22:35), her job at ULM, teaching for the Honors department, teaching elementary sc…
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University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) Percussion Professor and Chair of the Music Department Joseph Van Hassel stops by to talk about his recent PASIC performance with Alexandros Fragiskatos on a drumset duet (04:20), his UNCP job, freelancing, and his work in various positions for PAS (13:10), owning Media Press Publications and the dete…
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Principal Drumset Performer for SIX: The Musical on Broadway, percussionist, educator, and freelancer Elena Bonomo stops by to talk about her PASIC Presentation on Performing and Reading Charts for theatrical performance (03:20), her current gig on Broadway and freelancing work (26:10), growing up in Westchester (NY), her piano-playing grandmother,…
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University of Windsor (ON) Percussion Professor Nicholas Papador stops by to talk about his recent PASIC Presentation on Klezmer arrangements with the help of Heartland Marimba (04:00), his job at Windsor, the Canadian Percussion Network, the Marassa Duo, his compositional career and living in Canada (16:25), growing up mostly in Portland (OR), and…
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PASIC 2024 Week is here! Enjoy interviews from folks presenting on Friday, Saturday, and beyond, with contributions from Nicolas Papador (01:40), Elena Bonomo (15:00), Kathryn Irwin (38:50), and Elizabeth DeLamater (57:45). Links: PASIC 2024 Nicolas Papador and the Heartland Marimba Quartet Elena Bonomo Kathryn Irwin Diversity Alliance Panel…
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It’s PASIC week! Get ready for the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (2024 edition) with a preview episode featuring those performing on Thursday of PASIC, including Joseph Van Hassel (05:00), Melissa Wang (14:15), Olivia Cirisan (32:25), and Kathryn Irwin (47:35). Links: PASIC 2024 Joseph Van Hassel Melissa Wang Olivia Cirisan Witho…
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Murray State University (KY) Percussion Instructor Conner Viets returns to talk about finishing his master’s degree during the pandemic, temp jobs, and freelance teaching (03:25), going to Indiana University for the doctorate (11:50), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions about the large quantity of great percussion pla…
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