Spring 2021 Percussion Ensemble Concert
CCBC Percussion Ensemble
May 5, 2021
Members: Tanner Albinak, Edward Arellan, Alexander Curly, Jacob Glick and Ralph Magwood
Director: William Elliott
Program Order
New Orleans Vamp | William Elliott
Barnstormer | Chris Crockarell
Etude #1 (from the Solo Timpanist) Vic Firth
Soloist – Edward Arellan
Fire | Pete O’Gorman
Rhythmitis | John Beck
Soloist – Tanner Albinak
Three Way Split | Chris Brooks
Trio In a Rudimental Style | Joe Tompkins
Triplets | George H. Green
Soloist – Edward Arellan
Cabasa | Mark Ford
Groovin Hard | William Elliott
Bucket Jam | William Elliott
John H Beck was a faculty member of the Eastman School of Music from1959-2008. He continues as Professor Emeritus of Percussion and teaches a class in the History of Percussion. Beck’s career as a performer includes posts as a percussionist the United States Marine Band (1955-59); principal percussionist with the Rochester Philharmonic (1959-62); and timpanist with the Rochester Philharmonic (1962-2002). Past President of the Percussive Arts Society
Chris Brooks is Vice-President of Row-Loff Productions, a percussion publishing company he co-founded with Chris Crockarell in 1990. Brooks began playing drums professionally at age 16. From his jingle work in the recording studio to his live performances with artists such as Toni Tennille, the Smothers Brothers and Lucie Arnaz, these musical experiences influenced Brooks as he began composing percussion ensembles. Brooks, along with partner Crockarell, writes about two-thirds of Row-Loff’s percussion catalog. He has written over six dozen original ensembles and co-written several dozen more, and arranged over 30 pieces for percussion.
Chris Crockarell has created a special line of percussion methods and music books for those educators looking to bring fun to the art of music. With silly and fun method books the Roll-Off production company has been a staple at the Midwest Band Clinic and PASIC for several decades, helping both students and educators alike.
William Elliott is the element leader and percussionist for The U.S. Army Field Band. He earned an M.M. at Northern Illinois University and a B.M.E. at the University of Kentucky. He is currently on the music faculty of the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex Campus, and previously served as interim percussion professor at the University of Kentucky. William Elliott has presented clinics in all 50 states for all age levels to include music educators. In 2012 He was selected to present the clinic “Accessories, a Percussionists Bread and Butter” at the 50th anniversary of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He produced and edited the Field Band Instructional video The Complete Percussionist and has recorded more than 30 albums with the Field Band.
Vic Firth held a Bachelor’s degree, as well as an Honorary Doctorate in Music from New England Conservatory in Boston. He was the principal timpanist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1956 to 2002. He was the orchestra’s youngest member when music director Charles Munch hired him as a percussionist in 1952. Firth wrote several books in his career. Founded the Vic Firth Company in 1963, the company bills itself as the world’s largest manufacturer of drumsticks and mallets. Firth died at the age of 85 on July 26, 2015, at his home in Boston Massachusetts.
Mark Ford is the coordinator of percussion activities at The University of North Texas, one of the largest percussion programs in the United States. As a composer he has written many popular works for solo marimba and percussion ensemble.
George Hamilton Green was a xylophonist, composer and cartoonist born in Omaha, NE. He was born into a musical family. At age four showed great talent for the piano. He then took up the xylophone and by the age of eleven was being promoted as the “world’s greatest xylophonist”.