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September
13
Monday,
7:30 pm (Performance
Candids)
$14 - $18 adult; $10 - $14 student
Upper level seats are listed first. Includes all fees.
Special Workshop
for drummers on Monday, Sept. 13, at 3:30 p.m.
SCRAP ARTS MUSIC opens the 43rd Season of Caldwell Fine Arts on Monday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Jewett Auditorium. Scrap Arts Music is an energetic, highly choreographed program that is equal parts percussion, theater and movement. Featuring all-original music, futuristic instruments on wheels, and hyper-kinetic movement, the ensemble brings together five athletic percussionists and over forty-five impressive sculptural instruments. They have had many successful engagements in the United States following their appearance at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival in 2001. Founder Gregory Kozak was even commissioned to compose a piece for Scrap Arts Music and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia in 2004. “The load-in takes as much time as an opera,” according to Sylvia Hunt, manager of Caldwell Fine Arts. “If people have enjoyed Stomp and Blue Man Group, they will love Scrap Arts Music.” Scrap Arts Music stimulates ALL your senses! Based in Vancouver, Canada, this innovative group is led by composer-percussionist, Gregory Kozak. His compositions are a fusion of world music traditions and 21st century sounds. He says, "The instruments are mobile (the stage must be level) and the rhythms we work with are definitely catchy. I hope they will enjoy my music! We burn a lot of energy and really have fun. Audiences of all ages seem to enjoy that."
Presenter Brian McCurdy from the Mondavi Center at U C Davis considers Scrap Arts Music to be among the best events they have ever presented. “Received with absolute exuberance by our audiences. Experiencing the one-of-a-kind sounds of their handcrafted instruments may in itself be worth the ticket price…Artistically interesting and accessible enough to have great appeal and value for school and public audiences.”
Kozak, an experienced drummer, says, “SCRAP ARTS gives me a chance to use every skill I have-as a musician, as an artist and as an athlete! When I started out, I wanted to create a “family” of great-sounding instruments-the way that African drums have a hierarchy of “daddy drum,” “mama drum,” “kiddy drum,” etc. In other words, every drum has a unique personality, sound and place within the music. I design and build the instruments because I know what sounds and kinetic needs we have for my music. I also like the idea of transforming what we usually think of as junk into beautiful objects that can actually delight the ears. Each instrument can produce a multitude of sounds depending on how it is played. When we tour, I visit art galleries, libraries, and junkyards for inspiration.”
About the founders of SCRAP ARTS MUSIC….
Gregory Kozak likes to develop the sonic and visual potential of unexpected materials by bringing a musician’s ears to the world of sculpture and theatre. As artistic director and co-founder of Scrap Arts Music, Gregory composes contemporary percussion music, designs and builds sculptural instruments and choreographs hyper-kinetic movement. He is also principal soloist. His first show of original music, S.W.A.R.M., was debuted on Broadway and toured in 1997-1998. He has studied privately with many mentors, attended the Carl Berger’s Creative Music Studios in Woodstock, NY, and the New School for Social Research in New York City. In 2000, he received a Grant to Musicians from the Canada Council for the Arts and in 2001 an Artist in Residency grant from the Banff Centre.
Justine Murdy was a creative collaborator and company manager of S.W.A.R.M. She was intrinsically involved in lighting and costume design, stage management, publicity and grant writing. At that time she was completing a Master’s degree in Advanced Studies in Architecture at the University of British Columbia. Two years later (1998), she created Scrap Arts Music with Gregory, working with the ideas to invent a family of transforming, kinetic instruments from scrap and recycled materials and finding talented performers with strong drumming skills and athletic backgrounds to bring the program to life. Although fully engaged in the world of Scrap Arts Music since inception, Justine’s professional and educational background is in architecture, history and design.
Scott Bishop, frequently plays as a jazz drummer. He has a B.A. of Music from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, majoring in Percussion Performance. In 1991 he moved to British Columbia and played in symphonies throughout the province. He has studied with Nexus percussionists, and others from the Toronto and Cleveland Symphony and the Peabody Conservatory.
Sarka Kocicka was born in Brno, Czech Republic. At age four she emigrated to Toronto with her parents. She was a competitive swimmer to divert her hyperactive energy and help her asthma. At age 14, she began studying drum set and playing with her first band. She earned a B. A. in International Relations at the University of British Columbia. Scrap Arts Music allows her to redirect her childhood passion and energy into the precision and aerobic possibilities of action-percussion.
Malcolm Shoolbraid was born in Vancouver in 1973 and moved to Saltspring Island, BC, with his family at age six. He began to study the drums at age 16 and it became an obsession. He also has an eclectic array of job and trade skills, including house builder, cabinet-maker, industrial designer, painter, commercial fisherman and artist. He has been with Scrap Arts Music since 2000. He played soccer for 13 years, seven as a goalie. It was then that he developed and fostered his love of jumping…a skill which he uses in his performances.
Simon Thomsen was born in Santa Fe to professional dancers, and grew up in New York and Connecticut. Although sports were his main focus in high school, he soon realized a passion for music. In 2002, he received a B.S. in Music and Sound Recording Technology from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. He discovered the hot rhythms of Latin music and his music took a new direction. He has performed with the Metropolitan Wind Symphony, Cape Anne Symphony and Lowell Summer Concert Band in Massachusetts. He lives in Los Angeles and plays in the band iL Manifesto among others.
Some of the materials used in the instruments and performance include:
Salvaged ABS pipe, Aluminum pot bottom cutaways, pieces of wood flooring, steel oil cans manufactured in 1952, threaded rods, dishwasher hose, bagpipe reeds, balloons, coiled aluminum, big O irrigation hose and plumbing, 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 planks of wood, scrap artillery shells, hollow rubber tubes used for boat exhaust, piano & bass strings, bicycle bells, accordion and bag pipe reeds, and various aluminum and steel scraps.
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SPECIAL WORKSHOP ON MONDAY, September 13 at 3:30 p.m. in Jewett Auditorium for all interested drummers. Founder Greg Kozak will demonstrate the instruments and involve the group in playing. Caldwell Fine Arts anticipates that we can eventually get a "scrappy percussion ensemble" together for this community. Cost $3.00.”
(www.scrapartsmusic.com)
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