PROGRAM
Omphalo Centric Lecture - Nigel Westlake
Okho - Iannis Xenakis
Seeds - Leonardo Gorosito and Rafael Alberto
Specchio - Luigi Marinaro
***Intermission***
Table Music - Thierry de Mey
Threads - Paul Lansky
arx duo, two of the members of the Kansas City Percussion Group performing at
1900 Building.
MARI YOSHINAGA
Percussionist Mari Yoshinaga is a member of arx duo, described by composer Alejandro Vinao as “...absolutely wonderful, graceful, and powerful… Mari is also on the faculty of the Young Artist Summer Program at Curtis Summerfest in Philadelphia. Mari’s recent recording appearances include Partita: Suite for Gui-tar and Percussion by Paul Lansky with guitarist David Starobin (Bridge Records) and Cloud-Polyphonies by James Wood (NMC Recordings).
Mari was born in Kagoshima, Japan. Immersed in music from an early age, she began studying piano at age three, marimba at age five, euphonium at ten, cello at eleven, and percussion at twelve. She holds a Diploma in comparative culture from the Minami Academy iBS Language School, after which she received a Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music and a Master of Music from the Yale School of Music. Mari endorses Adams Instruments, Pearl drums, and Vic Firth sticks/mallets. She currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband Noah Geller violinist, and their lovely dog “Monkey”.
JEFF HEWITT
Jeff Hewitt (D.M.A.) is a freelancing percussion educator and performer in the Kansas City area who has taught students at the collegiate, secondary, and elementary levels in Kansas, Missouri, and Arizona. He is currently an Adjunct Instructor in Music Theory at Park University’s International Center for Music,, the Percussion Instructor at Shawnee Mission East High School, and a member of the Kansas City Percussion Collective ensemble. Hewitt recently served as the tour administrator, recruiter, performer, and clinician of the World Percussion Group during their tour across the United States in early 2016. Recent solo and chamber performances include appearances at the 2016 PASIC,, the NCPP, and various universities throughout the country.
Dr. Hewitt’s current research focuses on creating an extensive database of solo vibraphone literature. Hewitt earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona, a Master of Music degree from the University of Missouri, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Kansas State University. Jeff was raised in Overland Park, KS, and he is thrilled to be back in Kansas City after several years away from the city.
GARRETT ARNEY
As an alumnus of Ensemble ACJW and member of arx duo, Garrett Arney is dedicated to the creation and expansion of new music for percussion. Working in different musical settings, he brings an energy and passion to performing, teaching, and communicating with audiences. He has performed in a variety of settings around the world including the Carnegie Hall premiere of Steven Mackey's Micro-Concerto in 2016. Largely dedicated to chamber music, Mr. Arney finds new and creative ways to integrate his percussion into the world of different mixed ensembles and concerto repertoire.
As a performer, Mr. Arney has been at the front end of many new works from composers such as John Luther Adams, James Wood, and Ted Hearne. Having put out multiple videos for Vic Firth, Mr. Arney is dedicated to presenting music at the highest quality, presenting the most representative performances of the works, as well as reference for younger players.
As a teacher, Mr. Arney serves as adjunct faculty for Cleveland State University and Peabody Conservatory, as well as guest ensemble in residence at Michigan State University with arx duo. The Duo also teaches every summer for Curtis Summerfest, a three-week program for high school and young college students. His time with Ensemble ACJW has given him a broad experience of connecting to audiences in elementary schools to retirement homes as well as Carnegie Hall to local bars. He strives to connect with any audience, performer, and presenter, giving them an experience beyond the concert stage.
Mr. Arney is a proud sponsor of Pearl/Adams percussion instruments and Vic Firth.
KEVIN CLARKE
A native of Kansas City, Lee's Summit North High School Graduate, Kevin made his solo debut with the KC Symphony 1999. He studied percussion at the Peabody Conservatory, where upon graduation found work as Principal Timpanist in Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra (South Korea). Kevin was a highly sought after performer for solo recitals, concerto performances, and new music concerts in Japan and Korea. Kevin also served as Percussion Faculty for the Kyoung-Hee University (Seoul, Korea) School of Music
Finding a love of teaching while in Korea, and a desire to push Kansas City’s appreciation of Percussion to a new level, He decided to return home and currently runs the Non-profit“Kansas City Youth Percussion Ensemble” (ww.KCYPE.org). Training the next generation of Well Rounded musicians in the KC Area. You can also find Kevin occasionally performing with the KC Symphony, a once childhood dream come true.
All Members of the KCPG are proud sponsors of Vic Firth Mallets, and use their products solely in this performance.