Chicago Youth Percussion Ensemble to Perform Free Concert for Columbus Children

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and the Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) will host a special performance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Percussion Scholarship Group for Columbus area school children at noon, Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The concert is an outreach program of PASIC, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, which takes place Nov. 2-5 and will bring thousands of percussionists to Columbus for clinics, concerts and events.

The concert is an opportunity for students to see and hear music performed by kids their age on a variety of percussion instruments. The young performers are in grades four through twelve, and were selected through a rigorous application and personal interview process.

The Percussion Scholarship Group was created in 1995 under the direction of Chicago Symphony Orchestra percussionist Patricia Dash and Douglas Waddell, percussionist with Lyric Opera of Chicago. The program offers intensive, individual and weekly percussion instruction on a full scholarship basis.

As an ensemble, the Percussion Scholarship Group has had numerous compositions arranged especially for them by nationally known artists. The group performed at PASIC in 2002, on WTTW, on WGN and WFMT radio, and as soloists with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as part of CSO Youth Concerts, the Kraft Family Matinee Series and Welcome, Yule! concerts. Most recently, the ensemble performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic held in Chicago as well as with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on Benjamin Britten's “Noah's Flood.”

" Although our annual convention brings together the world's drum professionals, educators and students, we also realize that we must continue to develop community support and outreach programs to inspire future musicians,” said PASIC Director Jeff Hartsough.

“Drumming has many developmental, creative and recreational benefits. By inviting the children of Columbus to see and hear different kinds of drums and percussion instruments, our Children's Concert will allow them to experience the fun, creativity and excitement of drumming while inspiring a healthy interest in the art of percussion."

Admission is free but seating is reserved for elementary and middle school classes. Teachers and school administrators interested in having their students attend are asked to contact the Percussive Arts Society at 317.974.4488 or percarts@pas.org.

As an added benefit, students will receive a gift package and a free pass to the PASIC International Drum and Percussion Expo on Saturday, Nov. 5, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Commented PMC representative Juan Berrios , “The Percussion Marketing Council (PMC) appreciates the opportunity to work closely with PAS on this worthwhile collaboration. The Children’s Concert has been instrumental in creating greater interest in the art of percussion, which relates to the core values of both PMC and PAS.”

PASIC features more than 120 concerts, clinics, master classes and events. It is expected to draw more than 6,000 drum and percussion enthusiasts from across the U.S. and around the world. Most events will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The PASIC Children's Concert is a joint production of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and the Percussion Marketing Council (PMC), the trade association of the drum and percussion industry.