This week’s guest is Dr. Nicholas Terry Nick is a Grammy-winning percussionist specializing in contemporary classical music. Based in Los Angeles, he collaborates with leading artists of 20th and 21st century music in live performance, recording, and touring. Terry is the Director of Percussion Studies and Associate Professor of Music at the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music (Chapman University College of Performing Arts), where he additionally lectures on the subjects of world music and improvisation. He received degrees in music performance from the University of Southern California (DMA), California Institute of the Arts (MFA), and Eastern Illinois University (BM).

In 2008, he founded the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet. Hailed as “mesmerizing” by the New York Times, and praised for “championing composers of thought-provoking and uncompromisingly intelligent music.” (Percussive Notes) LAPQ received nominations for Best Small Ensemble Performance in the 55th Grammy Awards, and were featured performers at the 2013 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. In 2005, Terry cofounded Ensemble XII, an international percussion orchestra to which Pierre Boulez asserts, “…represents the next generation in the evolution of modern percussion.” Since 2004, he is a member of the Grammy-winning PARTCH ensemble, a group devoted to the music of American microtonal composer Harry Partch. Most recently, Terry co-founded Brightwork Newmusic (with LA pianist Aron Kallay), a Pierrot-plus sextet.

He is a five-year alumnus of the Lucerne Festival Academy, where he apprenticed under members of Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez, and Fritz Hauser. His numerous recorded performances have been released on Albany Records, Innova, New World, ein Klang, Bridge, HatHut, Capstone, and Sono Luminus.

In California, Terry’s notable performances include work with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Long Beach Opera, wildUp, Steven Schick & red fish blue fish, Eighth Blackbird, the California E.A.R. Unit, XTET, Argento Ensemble, and Da Capo Chamber Players. He has performed in Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Green Umbrella Series, Monday Evening Concerts, Art of Elan, Music & Conversations, Jacaranda Music, Grand Performances, Microfest, People Inside Electronics, Tuesday’s at Monk Space, Fullerton Friends of Music, and the American Maverick Festival at Davies Symphony Hall.

Terry is a Yamaha Performing Artist and exclusively endorses Sabian Cymbals, Black Swamp Percussion, REMO, and Innovative Percussion. He lives in Pasadena, California with his wife Emily, and daughters, London and Penelope.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Tony Escapa! Tony Escapa IV, was born in San Juan, PR. His father a professional pianist and mother a TV Host. It was clear at a young age that passion and talent where a part of him. At age 9 Tony started guitar lessons, but those where short lived as he found his true passion on a Yamaha drum set that was in the same studio as the lessons. Tony quickly sat on the drums and began to play away with no initial training. His father was astounded and preceded to purchase Tony a practice pad, some sticks and said: " in order to get a drum set, you have to prove to me that you will take drumming seriously ". Tony had to learn rudiments and practice for at least two hours a day to prove him self worthy of a drum set. His father however, did not really know was he was getting into only since Tony would practice not for two but from four to eight hours a day.

Tony took private lessons from some of Puerto Rico's best musicians and teachers very early. But the lessons where just like the icing on the cake since little Tony would always be by his father's side in gigs or rehearsal's with legendary artist in the business even before he could walk…That being the spark that ignited Tony's passion for music today.

Happy Birthday to Satnam Ramgotra! Satnam Ramgotra brings 30+ years experience to the Hollywood landscape as a studio musician for TV & film, a composer & a live-performance drummer & percussionist for world-renowned artists. Blending his training in Indian classical music with modern percussive styles allows him to create within a wide array of genres from punk & funk to classical & jazz. Ramgotra says, “I have an instinctual ability to capture the colour, style & emotion of what is intended to be created musically”.

Amongst the ‘A-list’ composers he collaborates alongside he is a house-musician at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions & worked on such projects as The Lion King 2019, The Dark Knight & Black Hawk Down as well as a co-composer on Dunkirk. His versatility in the industry allows him to perform, record or tour with artists like Beck, Sting, Pharrell Williams, Macy Gray, Shakira & he has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno & the 84th Academy Awards. You may have also heard his work on the A&E, Discovery, Epix, Food Network, History Channel, MLB, NFL, NHL Showtime networks as a composer for the boutique music library house Extreme Music.

Happy Birthday to Ji Su Jung! Born in South Korea, she is a rarity in the world of percussion having begun her studies at the age of four. Her exceptional talent was recognized early on and led to recitals and concerto performances at such a young age that she needed a small platform to stand upon just to reach the keyboard of the instrument. That platform was soon left behind as her stature and musical voice matured and numerous solo performances ensued. In 2011, she came to the United States where she completed her undergraduate studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, thanks to a generous grant from The Brookby Foundation in Wisconsin, and later received her Masters and Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of famed percussionist Robert van Sice.

Her exceptional potential quickly blossomed into professional success leading to concerto performances including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Marin Alsop, Colorado Springs Philharmonic with JoAnn Falletta, Houston Symphony with Daniel Hege, the Aspen Festival Orchestra with Michael Stern, Grand Rapids Symphony with Marchelo Lehninger, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra with Peter Oundjian, Boise Philharmonic with Eric Garcia, the Windsor Symphony in Canada with Robert Franz and the Romanian Symphony Orchestra. Miss Jung made her commercial recording debut this season at the invitation of Pulitzer prize winning composer, Kevin Puts performing his spectacular marimba concerto with Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony for the Naxos label. Her recitals across America have also won over new audiences for the marimba and her appearance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C resulted in an unexpected invitation to join the faculty at The Peabody Institute. Ji Su has garnered numerous prizes in national and international competitions. She was the first percussionist in twenty six years to win the First Prize and the Audience Choice Award at the 2018 Ima Hogg Competition of the Houston Symphony and was a laureate in the International Marimba Competition in Linz, Austria in 2015. NPR radio host Fred Childs welcomed her as an artist in residence for his nationally syndicated program, Performance Today. During her week with him in Minneapolis, she performed many of the seminal pieces in the marimba repertoire introducing the instrument to listeners in every corner of the country. While in Minnesota, Jung’s concerts for children were highly successful reflecting her love for bringing classical music to young audiences. Ji Su has presented master classes at numerous conservatories and universities around the world including the Curtis Institute of Music, New York University’s Stienhardt School, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and the Beijing Central Conservatory in China and she serves on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music as well as the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

As the repertoire for marimba in mixed ensemble is growing rapidly, Miss Jung has become an active chamber musician alongside her solo concerts. Her first commercial chamber CD of Garth Neustadter’s Seaborne with The Percussion Collective is due for release in 2023. This all-star collection of young percussionists performs recitals and concertos in major concert venues around the world and she has been a core member since its inception. She has also appeared at the Yellow Barn and Norfolk Chamber Music Festivals where she performed with many of today’s greatest chamber musicians including legendary pianist Gilbert Kalish and Roger Tapping, formerly of the Takács String Quartet. Starting in the 2022-2023 season, Ji Su will join forces with luminary flutist Marina Piccinini to form a duo performing in both North America and Europe.

Gig Alerts

P!nk announced new dates for the continuation of her Summer Carnival Tour 2024. Friend of the show, Brian Frasier-Moore will continue to play drums for this show.

AJR announced their 2024 US Tour Dates (thus far) with friend of the show, Chris Berry on drums.

There are ongoing concerts and holiday events in most major cities. Here are a couple in NYC (List #1 - List #2) as well as events in Los Angeles (List #1 - List #2). Feel free to search your city to see what is going on!

Educational Spotlight

Starting in 2024, the Percussive Arts Society will present/co-present five in-person percussion ensemble competitions and festivals around the United States for high school and middle school students. -READ MORE HERE

Iconic Recording

Nick picked the iconic recording for the week. It is “Third Construction“ by John Cage, performed by the Kroumata Percussion Ensemble.

Music News

Live Nation has revealed a new minimum wage of $20 per hour for employees at its clubs in the U.S. and Canada, besides compensation of at least $25 per hour for those in “supervisor roles.” -Article

Stagehand is launching a Christmas fundraiser, #ILoveLive3 to benefit live event production and touring professionals. -Article

Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, and Warner Music Group have established the Music Industry Climate Collective (MICC). The aim is to address challenges in the industry that impact the global climate. -Article

Nick Terry Interview

The song leading into the interview is, “Ian Dicke: Isla for flute, vibraphone and live audio processing” performed for the Brightwork Ensemble & Friends Fall 2021 Video Concert by Sara Andon on flute and Nick Terry on vibraphone.

Damon and Nick met at this year’s PASIC convention and talk about their experience.

Nick talks about his clinic at PASIC. The music was written by Paulo Chagas performed by the (Nick) Terry (Justin) DeHart Duo.

NIck teaches at Chapman University and their choir was featured in the movie Sister Act 2.

Damon and Nick talk about being a well rounded percussionist and musician.

Nick talks about the book Gaddiments. Shout out to the Vic Firth Rubber tipped sticks, and also friend of the show, Joe Bergamini, who helped put together the Gaddiments book.

Nick got his bachelors degree at Eastern Illinois University, his masters at Cal Arts, and his doctorate at USC.

Nick is from Rapid City, South Dakota. Before that he was in Omaha, Nebraska.

Shout-out to Joe Voda’s Drum City.

Nick studied with the late Luigi Waites.

When he moved to South Dakota, he studied with Dr. Don Parker of Georgia College and State University as well as Dr. Jeff Crowell, who is now at University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.

Nick went to the US Percussion Camp hosted by Johnny Lee Lane.

Shout-out to Julie Spencer and friend of the show, Taku Hirano for helping instigate Nick heading to Cal Arts.

Nick talks scheduling with regard to his teaching and performing ensembles.

Nick talks about a forthcoming concert with the Brightwork Ensemble which is a Pierrot ensemble.

Nick uses the forScore app on an iPad for reading charts and a bluetooth pedal to turn pages.

Nick talks about guesting with the L.A. Philharmonic and some of his other ensembles, including the Partch Ensemble which was nominated for a Grammy 5 times and won, once.

Nick talks about working with his students.

Damon brings up percussion logistics.

Damon brings up the Rate My Professor comments.

Nick talks about his spirituality.

Nick chooses the iconic recording.

NIck uses Yamaha Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets, and Black Swamp Percussion.

The percussionists/mentors not already mentioned in the episode are: the late David Johnson, John Bergamo, Swapan Chaudhuri, Randy Gloss, Erik Forrester, Joe Pereira and Richie “Gajate” Garcia.

You can follow Nick on Instagram.

The song leading out of the interview is “Sparrow Dance” performed by the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet.