Music Department
The MSUM Percussion Studio
Orchestral Instruments and Technique |
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In addition to private lessons, students benefit from participating in a weekly studio master class session during which guest artists and/or students perform and discuss issues pertaining to percussion literature and performance. Percussionists at MSUM are encouraged to teach and perform as much as possible; many of our students are active in the public schools as private instructors and/or musicians in local bands and professional ensembles such as the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony. On campus, opportunities to explore your talents abound! Whether it be as a member of the Percussion Ensemble, Steel band and Afro-Cuban Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combos, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Contemporary Music (Rock/Pop) Ensemble, there’s a place for you at MSU!
The MSUM Percussion Ensemble
The Minnesota State University Moorhead Percussion Ensemble consists of 12-15 auditioned percussionists who are committed to performing works of the highest caliber. Each semester, the ensemble presents concerts that feature the finest in percussion ensemble literature for both Western ensembles (Cage, Reich, Miki, Harrison, Glassock, Zivkovic…) and non-Western percussion (Africa, Cuba, Trinidad, Brazil, and the Middle East). The ensemble often performs with internationally recognized guest artists and frequently tours throughout the Midwest while performing at music festivals such as the Minnesota Day of Percussion, the Music Educators National Convention, the Minnesota MEA State Convention, and many more. Like every music ensemble at MSUM, each student who is accepted into the ensemble is INSTANTLY offered a scholarship that pays for the price of participating in the group. For other percussion scholarship and graduate assistantship opportunities, please contact the department.
View YouTube clips of the MSUM Percussion Ensemble with Ruben Alvarez (Latin Percussion, 2004), Sowah Mensah (West African Percussion, 2005) and Cabello and Tisza Rolim (Brazilian Percussion, 2008) to your left! Or, listen to Realplayer clips by the MSUM Percussion Ensemble: Forever and Sunsmell (1942), John Cage (1912-1992) Glen Velez in concert with the MSUM Percussion Ensemble
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Click here for more photos of the MSUM Percussion Ensemble!
MSUM Steel band and Afro-Cuban Ensemble
Fuego Tropical
Consisting of over 20 student performers, Fuego Tropical meets three times each week during the fall semester to explore the steel band music of Trinidad and the salsa music of Cuba and the Caribbean. Created under the auspices of a MnSCU Center for Teaching and Learning "Learning that Lasts" grant (with generous support from the Bush Foundation), this ensemble serves as an outreach by MSUM towards both the African-American and Hispanic communities of the Fargo-Moorhead area, and therefore frequently performs both on and off campus at private and public events. The ensemble is one of the most in-demand student ensembles in the region and is especially well-known for their innovative public school educational program, "Carnival Jump-Up." Bookings for the ensemble can be arranged by contacting Dr. Williams at the phone number listed below. To find-out more about the ensemble, including recordings, on-line video clips, and future performances, click here!
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Dr. Kenyon Williams, Director
Dr. Kenyon Williams has worked throughout the United States as a professional performer, educator, arranger, and clinician. A graduate of Abilene Christian University, the Hartt School of Music, and the University of Kentucky, he has performed as a guest soloist and section member for numerous orchestras, including the Abilene Philharmonic (TX), the Louisville Symphony (KY), the Lexington Philharmonic (KY), and currently serves as the Acting Principal Percussionist for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. As an educator, he has taught at the secondary school level as well as at Abilene Christian University (TX), Transylvania University (KY), and Hardin Simmons University (TX). Dr. Williams is currently the Director of Percussion Studies at Minnesota State University Moorhead where he maintains an active teaching and performing schedule and directs the acclaimed “Fuego Tropical” Steel Drum and Salsa Ensemble. His interests have taken him abroad for extended studies in Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, and Trinidad, where he performed with the legendary Invaders Steel Orchestra in Panorama 2002 under the auspices of a Kentucky Opportunity Performing Arts Fellowship. In the United States, he has taken his love for the music of the Caribbean to new levels by establishing, arranging, and performing for steel bands and Afro-Cuban ensembles in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Dakota and Texas. Dr. Williams endorses Latin Percussion instruments, Innovative sticks and mallets, and Coyle Steel Drums, through which he has published numerous original arrangements and transcriptions. |
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Aside from his duties at MSUM and with the FM Symphony, he also performs in and directs the popular professional MSUM-based steel drum quintet Poco Fuego and is the timbalero and director of the only professional salsa band in the Red River Valley region, Soulsa de Fargo. Dr. Williams is currently serving as Treasure of the Minnesota Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society and has been appointed chair of the World Percussion Committee of PAS, the largest body of professional pecussionists in the world with over 9,000 members in over 75 chapters around the world.
Dr. Allen Carter, Drum set
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Dr. Allen Carter has a diverse background as a drummer/percussionist/ composer/arranger/educator. Born and raised in Ellinwood, Kansas, he received his Bachelor of Music degree from Kansas State University, and his Master of Music and Doctor of Arts degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Carter has performed with the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet, Les Brown’s Band of Renown, the Los Angeles Jazz Workshop and numerous other Los Angeles area big bands. He has worked with such vocalists as Nancy Wilson, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Melissa Manchester, Harry Connick Jr., and Glen Campbell and has been involved in numerous recording sessions for records, films, and commercials. Appearances as a featured artist have taken Dr. Carter across the United States as well as to concert stages and jazz clubs in many foreign countries. At the current time, Allen serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Minnesota State University, Moorhead where he teaches freshman music theory, drum set, and courses in the jazz studies and music industry programs. He has lectured internationally to educators and students on a wide range of jazz education and percussion topics and is a member of the resource team for the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) Performing groups under his direction have been awarded recognition at the national level and he has directed numerous honor groups for educator associations throughout the western United States. Along with his ongoing work playing, teaching, and writing, Dr. Carter heads his own company, AC Muzik, developing interactive CD-ROM teaching tools for use by jazz educators and their students. Click here to listen to some of his performances and arrangements! |
Chris Mahan, Adjunct Professor of Percussion
Chris Mahan received his Bachelor’s of Music in Percussion
Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in August 2005. At Colorado, Chris studied under
Doug Walter and specialized in marimba and jazz vibraphone. He received his Masters of Music in
Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University in May 2007. At Northern Illinois, he studied with Rich Holly, Greg Beyer, and Robert Chappell while serving as a Graduate
Assistant in Percussion. At
NIU, Chris played in various ensembles including performing as a jazz
vibraphonist in the world-renowned Liberace
Jazztet. As a member of the Jazztet, Chris was named an
Outstanding Solo Artist at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival.
Currently, Chris resides in Fargo, ND where he
performs as a section member with the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and plays piano with the
salsa group, Soulsa de Fargo. As a
freelance percussionist, Chris plays with a variety of ensembles in the Fargo
Moorhead area, ranging from jazz to pop, salsa, and opera.
Chris Mahan received his Bachelor’s of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in August 2005. At Colorado, Chris studied under Doug Walter and specialized in marimba and jazz vibraphone. He received his Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University in May 2007. At Northern Illinois, he studied with Rich Holly, Greg Beyer, and Robert Chappell while serving as a Graduate Assistant in Percussion. At NIU, Chris played in various ensembles including performing as a jazz vibraphonist in the world-renowned Liberace Jazztet. As a member of the Jazztet, Chris was named an Outstanding Solo Artist at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival.
Currently, Chris resides in Fargo, ND where he
performs as a section member with the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and plays piano with the
salsa group, Soulsa de Fargo. As a
freelance percussionist, Chris plays with a variety of ensembles in the Fargo
Moorhead area, ranging from jazz to pop, salsa, and opera.
More Information
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To request more information about the Percussion Studio at Minnesota State University and how you can become involved, please contact Dr. Kenyon Williams at:
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For more information about the MSUM Percussion Studio, please feel free to visit any of the links below: