Role

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Ensemble

 

The Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1984 at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The ensemble is made up of undergraduate and graduate students who are studying percussion at the school. The ensemble is directed by Matthew Strauss, who is also a professor of percussion at the Shepherd School. The founding of the Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble was a response to the growing interest in percussion music in the United States in the 1980s. The ensemble was created to provide students with the opportunity to study and perform percussion music at a high level. The ensemble quickly gained a reputation for excellence and has since become one of the premier percussion ensembles in the United States. The main members of the Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble are the students who are studying percussion at the Shepherd School. The ensemble is made up of undergraduate and graduate students who are selected through an audition process. The members of the ensemble are chosen for their technical proficiency, musicality, and ability to work well in a group setting. Over the years, the Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble has performed at many major venues and events. Some of the highlights of the ensemble's performances include a performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 1992, a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in 1996, and a performance at the World Percussion Festival in Seoul, South Korea in 2002. The ensemble has also won many awards and accolades over the years. In 1994, the ensemble won the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition. In 2000, the ensemble was awarded the John Cage Award for Excellence in Percussion Performance by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). In 2010, the ensemble was awarded the Outstanding Ensemble Award by the Texas Music Educators Association. The Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble has also commissioned and premiered many new works for percussion ensemble. Some of the composers who have written works for the ensemble include John Cage, Steve Reich, and Michael Torke. The ensemble has also collaborated with many other musicians and ensembles, including the Houston Symphony Orchestra and the Kronos Quartet. In addition to its performances and awards, the Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble is also known for its educational outreach programs. The ensemble regularly performs at schools and community centers in the Houston area, and also offers workshops and masterclasses for percussion students. Overall, the Shepherd School Percussion Ensemble is a world-class ensemble that has made significant contributions to the world of percussion music. Through its performances, awards, and educational outreach programs, the ensemble has helped to promote and advance the art of percussion music in the United States and beyond.

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