Glennie Elicits Good Vibrations
Johnson County Community College |
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Evelyn Glennie, the first lady of solo percussion, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in Yardley Hall of the Carlsen Center for the Performing Arts, Johnson County Community College. Artists Insights by Dr. Bill Everett, musicologist, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, begin at 7 p.m.
The fiery Scot, now honored with the title of Dame, is the first person in musical history to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. As one of the most eclectic and innovative musicians on the scene today, she is constantly redefining the goals of percussion.Glennie’s exceptional performance with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra was heard at the Carlsen Center in October 2004.
“If you've never experienced Glennie, you shouldn't miss her. If you've heard her before, chances are you already have your tickets,” the Washington Post wrote. Superstar Glennie comes to the stage barefoot and feels the music through her body. Her style ranges from thundering strikes to utmost delicacy as she speeds from one instrument to the next. Her playing is thrilling and inspiring to see and hear. By combining superb technique, a profound appreciation of visual presentation and her astonishing musicality, her performances almost constitute a new type of performance. In a live concert, she performs on up to 60 instruments including xylophone, marimba and timpani as well some Glennie designed herself. Glennie gives more than 100 performances a year, performing with some of the greatest conductors, orchestras and artists worldwide. For the first 10 years of her career, every performance she gave was in some way a first – the first time an orchestra had performed with a percussion soloist, the first solo-percussion performance and the world premiere of a new percussion piece.
Glennie has commissioned 143 new works for solo percussion from many of the world’s most eminent composers. She also composes and records music for film and television. Despite a relentless performance schedule, she has released 22 recordings, winning two Grammys – one for a recording of Bartok’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion and one for her collaboration with banjo player Béla Fleck. Full of creativity, Glennie constantly explores other ideas. She collaborated with film director Thomas Ridelsheimer on a film, Touch of the Sound; written a best-selling autobiography, Good Vibrations; and presented two television series for the BBC. She regularly appears on U.S. and U.K. television and, to date, has received approximately 80 international awards.
A native of Scotland, Glennie trained at the Royal Academy of Music, London. She has since received many honorary doctorates and was awarded the Officer of the British Empire in 1993, a title extended in 2007 to “Dame Commander.” Her activities also include lobbying the government on political issues as diverse as music education and parking rights for motorbikes. (She is a keen biker.) Glennie plays the Great Highland bagpipe and is committed to bringing its music to a wider audience. She has worked with indigenous musicians throughout the world, including gamelan orchestras in Indonesia, samba bands in Brazil, Kodo drummers in Japan and Indian musicians.
After 20 years in the music business, Glennie has begun teaching privately, which allows her to explore teaching and the world of sound therapy as a means of communication. Evelyn Glennie tickets are $15 and $25, available by calling the Carlsen Center box office, 913-469-4445, or online at www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter. ###
The Carlsen Center ArtsEducation program will sponsor Evelyn Glennie in a percussion master class and lecture demonstration for serious intermediate to advanced students of all ages March 7 or 8, date to be determined. For more information, call Angel Mercier, ArtsEducation program director, 913-469-8500, ext. 4221.
