Late this summer, the Eastman Percussion Group played before a large audience at Beijing’s National Centre for Performing Arts.
By Jessica Kaufman
While many of Eastman’s distinguished faculty members have the privilege of traveling internationally to perform at various large-scale festivals and conferences, it is a special professor who brings his current and former students along for the adventure.
On August 25, Professor Michael Burritt, Eastman professor of percussion and chair of the Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion Department, along with several current and former members of the Eastman Percussion Ensemble, performed at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing, in the 2018 Summer Season series. The concert was sold out – 1890 people in attendance, with the experience impacting all who attended, and bringing Eastman, and its impressive Percussion department, to further acclaim in China.
Professor Burritt was invited to perform as a solo artist at this year’s National Centre for the Performing Arts Percussion Festival 2018 (NCPA), considered to be the most prestigious performing festival in China. With several concerts dedicated strictly to percussion, held in two concert halls, Burritt decided to bring a group from Eastman to perform with him, which he called the Eastman Percussion Group. It is a spin-off of the well-known Eastman Percussion Ensemble, a flexible group of current students and alumni set to perform in a professional setting. Current and former students performing with Burritt included Brant Blackard (MM ‘15, current DMA student), Cameron Leach (MM ‘18), Kyle Peters (MM ‘17, current ECMS percussion faculty member), and Connor Stevens (MM ‘15, current DMA student).
“Any time any part of Eastman performs internationally and represents the school at that level of excellence is a trip that is vital to take,” shares Burritt. To his mind, this was the perfect time for the inaugural performance of this group. “This is my fifth time in China performing, but this is the first time I’ve ever brought students from Eastman.”
The Eastman Percussion Group performed several works by Burritt, including: Rounders, “Recitative Cantabile” from Waking Dreams, Sweet Dreams and Time Machines (featuring Burritt and Peters on marimba and dedicated to the memory Burritt’s friend, colleague and former Eastman Dean, Douglas Lowry), and White Pines. Several of these pieces had been performed and premiered at Eastman, but were having their Chinese debuts. Rounding out the program was Bob Becker’s Mudra.
In addition to the Eastman Percussion Group, several other great international artists were present: Artistic Director Li Biao, China’s most famous percussionist, a major figure as percussion soloist, teacher, and orchestral conductor; and Colin Currie, a prominent percussionist based in London, performing with his group. Amadinda Percussion Group, from Hungary has also been a past participant, showcasing the level of artists invited to perform by the festival.
“One of the greatest things about being a musician is sharing with others. And to share with those I’ve taught is particularly special as a pedagogue,” Burritt stresses. “Any time you get to travel to the other side of the world and share your music and have a new audience to share with, it’s impactful. For young musicians to experience a trip such as this, to play in a truly professional setting, and to be part of a festival with other artists from around the world — it’s a unique opportunity.”
Cameron Leach echoes Burritt’s statement. “The Eastman Percussion Group’s recent trip to China was easily the best performance experience of my life. Not only was the concert a huge success, but having the opportunity to experience Chinese culture was informative, exciting, and fresh. Some highlights for me were the Peking duck, trips to famous landmarks such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City, and Jack, one of our tour guides. We owe everything to Professor Burritt, Dean Hain, and everyone else who made this happen behind the scenes; thank you for the trip of a lifetime, and memories that will last forever!”
Burritt emphasizes why international trips are so vital for faculty and students when an opportunity can be made. “Any time more people in China, or anywhere in the world, hear and see our quality musicians, and learn more about Eastman, the better.”
Festival attendees certainly were familiar with Eastman; a tribute to the Percussion department, and to Burritt’s work in particular. “When I go to China, many students bring my own pieces to me to sign. It’s exciting to see them know my work and about Eastman, and how eager they are to learn even more,” says Burritt. “They know of our percussion department, and the reputation Eastman has. Cementing that reputation with our performance is important, and frankly, priceless.”