The UW Percussion Ensemble co-directed by Tom Collier and Andrew Angell, performs new and standard works for percussionl. Featured standard pieces include Paul Creston's "Ceremonial, Opus 103 for Percussion Ensemble and Piano" and "Double Music for Percussion Quartet" jointly composed by 20^th century icons John Cage and Lou Harrison. New works on the program include "Coming Undone for Percussion Ensemble" by Andy Harnsberger and Christopher Rouse's interpretation of Hawaiian ceremonial music "Ku-Ka Ilimoku."

DIRECTOR BIOs

Thomas Collier

Director of percussion studies at the University of Washington School of Music since 1980, associate professor Tom Collier has performed and recorded with many important classical, jazz, and popular artists, in addition to recording and performing with his own jazz group. He is a veteran of more than 50 years in music -- his first public appearance was at age five, on xylophone, and his first professional performances were made as a nine-year-old marimba virtuoso.

He has made commercial and educational recordings with his own jazz group for various jazz labels, including Inner City (New York), Music Minus One (New York), TC Records (Seattle), Nebula (Baton Rouge), and Studio 4 (Los Angeles).

Collier has recorded several educational albums for Music Minus One and Studio 4 Productions, as well as presenting more than 300 jazz concerts in public schools around Washington for the Arts in Education Program, Washington State Arts Commission. The National Association of Jazz Educators presented him with an "Outstanding Service to Jazz Education" award in 1980.

A UW alumnus, Collier graduated from the School of Music in 1971 with a BA/BM in percussion performance.

Andrew Angell

Andrew Angell is currently pursuing his Doctoral of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance degree. He previously earned a Master of Music degree in Performance at Portland State University, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion Performance at Central Washington University. His primary teachers have included Tom Collier, Mike Crusoe, Joel Bluestone, and Mark Goodenberger.

While at Portland State University Angell served as Graduate Teaching Assistant for Percussion. His duties included teaching private lessons, Percussion Ensemble, and Percussion Techniques. Additionally, he has been a clinician and judge for percussion contests and festivals in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona.

Angell has performed with a variety of ensembles including the Tempe Symphony, West Valley Symphony, Seattle Rock Orchestra, Pacific Crest Wind Symphony, Anomaly Percussion Group, as well as various pop and rock bands. He as been a soloist with the University of Washington and Portland State University Percussion Ensembles and appeared as a guest artist with the Phoenix College Percussion Ensemble. His current musical interests lie in the areas of contemporary music performance and electronic percussion.