#318 Erin Elstner- Percussionist, Educator, Conductor, Composer and More!
This weeks guest is Erin Elstner. Erin is an experienced percussionist and conductor who has been the head of the Webster University percussion department and the conductor of both the Webster University Percussion Ensemble and the Webster University Community Music School (CMS) Percussion Ensemble where she also taught private drum and percussion lessons. Erin has also been the co-director of the Strike Institute, a summer percussion symposium in St. Louis where she conducted the percussion ensemble. She is currently the Assistant Director and Director of Ladue Percussion at Ladue Schools as well as a professor at Webster University.
Erin is a percussion and drum set professor teaching applied percussion lessons and percussion methods courses at Webster University and percussion classes at Ladue Schools. Previously Erin was a member of the adjunct faculty at Maryville University. She has taught percussion through the St. Louis Symphony Community Music School, the Third Street Music Settlement and Carnegie Hall in New York where she was a Teaching Artist, the Taichung School of Arts and Music in Taiwan, The Strike Institute and The Erin Elstner Percussion Studio. Erin is also an active adjudicator and clinician in both Missouri and Illinois and has toured Europe with the Missouri Ambassadors of Music. At Webster University, Erin has hosted many internationally renowned artists in masterclasses including Stanton Moore (Galactic), Chuck Silverman (Latin artist-L.A.), Jason Bittner (Shadow’s Fall), Keith Aleo (Boston Conservatory), Michael Israelievitch (Stuttgart Philharmoniker), Matt Nolan (U.K. based instrument maker), Robert Glasper and the Experiment (gospel/R&B), Danny Seraphine (Drummer for Chicago), Thor Anderson (Cuban artist), John Blackwell (Drummer for Prince) and Dave King (The Bad Plus).
As a freelance performer, Ms. Elstner’s numerous performance achievements include playing percussion with the International Women’s Brass Conference, an American tour led by Susan Slaughter and principal orchestral players with a residency at Interlochen, percussionist for the new music ensemble Synchronia, member of the Brazilian groups The Sambistas and the Sambanditos,“The True Heart” performance with Glen Velez, the VH-1 Fashion Awards in New York with the group De La Guarda, playing percussion with Peter Cetera of Chicago, percussionist with the Joffrey Ballet, the Grateful Dead reunion tour, Motown and Weird Al Yankovic at the Fox Theater, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 100-year centennial celebration performance of Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and the Wiz at the St. Louis Muny, Cirque Musica, The Who and drum set for the “Bright Lights, Broadway” Asian tour, Cabaret at the Repertory Theater of St. Louis and Sondheim’s Company at the Edison Theater at Washington University.
She has also been the percussionist/drummer for blues, rock and pop bands, including vibraphonist/vocalist for New York group Champale, featured in the New Yorker magazine, guest performer with Bambi Kino in Hamburg, Germany for the 50th anniversary of the Beatles at the Kaiserkeller, drummer for gypsy blues group Hazmat Modine performing regularly at Terra Blues in Manhattan, and RED, a rock trio in New York City. Erin has played with artists such as David Garza, Japanese pop group Pizzicato Five and recorded/played on many records including those of Clem Snide and Kill Henry Sugar. Erin is a member of the St. Louis Bach Society performing regularly at Powell Hall and the Swing of Hearts Orchestra, performing regularly at McKendree University. Ms. Elstner has been published in Percussive Notes and her electronic compositions have been included on Billy Martin’s album, Meshes, on Amulet Records and in several U.K.-based documentary videos.
Erin Elstner is an endorsed artist by Canopus Drums and the Zildjian Cymbal Company. Erin received her B.M. in Percussion Performance at Mannes College of Music in New York (The New School University), her Music Education certification from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and her M.A. in Orchestral Conducting at Webster University, both of which she graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Andy “Chico” Akiho. Described as "mold-breaking," "alert and alive," "dramatic," and "vital" by The New York Times, Andy Akiho is an eclectic composer and performer of contemporary classical music. Recent engagements include commissioned premieres by the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Carnegie Hall's Ensemble ACJW; a performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and three concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Akiho has been recognized with awards including the 2014-15 Luciano Berio Rome Prize, the 2015 Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund, a 2014 Fromm Foundation Commission from Harvard University, the 2014 American Composers Orchestra Underwood Emerging Composers Commission, a 2014 Chamber Music America (CMA) Grant with the Friction Quartet and Jenny Q Chai, a 2012 CMA Grant with Sybarite5, the 2012 Carlsbad Composer Competition Commission for the Calder Quartet, and the 2011 Finale & ensemble eighth blackbird National Composition Competition Grand Prize. Additionally, his compositions have been featured on PBS's "News Hour with Jim Lehrer" and by organizations such as Bang on a Can, American Composers Forum, and The Society for New Music.
Happy Birthday to J.J. Johnson. Growing up in San Antonio and Austin, TX, JJ Johnson has built a tremendous reputation as a masterful drummer with his polyrhythmic grooves and pin-dropping dynamics coupled with his thunderous power and intensity. He has backed some of music’s most talented artists such as Tedeschi-Trucks Band, John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, Sugarland, Doyle Bramhall II, Boz Scaggs and many others.
"You've got to put the work and time in, to be armed and prepared, Being in position is being in any position. Then, also doing it with feeling, and learning from it. Those are important principles for me. The camaraderie of a unit on tour and the energy of playing for a live audience is incredibly special. When the lights go down and everyone hits the stage, it brings you to life and reminds you what you’re here to do.”
JJ currently resides in Austin, TX and is endorsed by Gretch Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, Remo drumheads and DW Hardware.
Gig Alerts
The Super Bowl Music Fest is happening from Feb 9-11th.
Beyonce announced her Renaissance tour.
As Beyonce Renaissance Tour Tickets Roll Out Senate Judiciary Committee Has Ominous Warning For Ticketmaster. -Article
Due to the incredible demand, Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour has already had seven new stadium shows added to the North American leg. The superstar’s first solo tour in over six years kicks off in May 2023 with the European leg. The North American portion begins in July. -Article and added dates
Bruce Springsteen is back on tour and has added new musicians to the E Street Band. One of those members is friend of the show, Anthony Almonte.
Damon will be playing percussion with the Atomic Funk Project on Feb 16th at the Brooklyn Bowl.
Educational Spotlight
The 15th annual Drum Fantasy Camp is happening in Los Angeles from Aug 4-8th in the Loews Hollywood Hotel.
Product Review
Damon has released his Plethora of Percussion (aka P.O.P.) pack with Yurt Rock. There are over 1,000 loops and one-shots for drummers, other instrumentalists, engineers, producers, singer-songwriters and more!
Here is the Spotify Playlist of iconic pop percussion songs that Damon and Marcos Torres created.
Iconic Recording
This week’s iconic recording was chosen by Erin. It is a live performance by Cyro Baptista and Billy Martin.
Music News
The Grammy Awards happened last Sunday. Here is the FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND NOMINEES.
Federal lawmakers have reintroduced the American Music Fairness Act, which would compel stateside terrestrial radio stations to begin coughing up royalties for the use of recordings. -Article
How artists and hosts can utilize Side Door’s live music booking platform and more on their efforts to support underrepresented voices this festival season. -Article
The nominees for the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction have been selected.
Erin Elstner Interview
The song leading into the interview is of Erin playing riq with a violinist from a concert.
Damon and Erin talk about choosing clothes that you can play percussion in.
Erin talks about her family and how she got her start in music.
Erin lived in NYC and Taiwan. She speaks fluent Mandarin.
Erin talks about how she went from Brooklyn to Taiwan. She was in Asia for 6 years.
Erin is also an accomplished pianist and is also an accompanist.
Damon and Erin talk about sight-reading.
Erin got to perform with the late Chuck Silverman.
Erin teaches at Webster University, and encourages her students to take advantage of study abroad programs.
Erin moved to NYC and auditioned at the New School and Manhattan School of Music. She got accepted at both and chose the New School.
Erin talks about Chris Lamb’s clinic at PASIC and Damon mentions the Frequency Modulators he invented and Erin talks about his snare drums.
Shout-out to Jim Preiss and Glen Velez.
Erin talks about her new project called Trio Monapotamus with Kevin Gianino and Sebastian Buhts.
Damon and Erin talk about their gardening hobby and her dogs.
Damon mentions the Tom Selleck avocado story.
Erin LOVES sushi, extra wasabi.
Erin picks the iconic recording. Shout-out to the group she played in in NYC called the Sambanditos and Cyro’s group called Beat the Donkey.
Erin talks about the recording that will play at the end of the episode.
Erin uses Zildjian Cymbals, and Canopus Drums.
Shout-out to Michael Faris, and Brevan Hampden.
Erin gives a rig rundown. She and Damon talk logistics.
The song leading out of the interview Is Meshes Score #3 that she talked about as a collaboration with Billy Martin.
