Gary Rutkowski, Kirk Brundage, Bob Accurso and John Bacon,
Jr.
The Genesis...
The Maelström Percussion Ensemble was formed by four graduate students
from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1982. SUNY Buffalo,
one of the country's primary centers for new music since the days of the
Creative Associates in the 1960's, has enjoyed a distinguished faculty and
the frequent visits of many of the world's most influential composers and
performers, including John Cage, Morton Feldman, Yvar Mikhashoff, Lukas
Foss, and John Bergamo. Pre-eminent percussionist and UB professor, Jan
Williams profoundly affected Maelström's early development. Throughout
the 1980's, the ensemble fine-tuned its mastery of the classic percussion
repertoire as well as recent compositions by established and up-and-coming
composers. An uncompromising dedication to contemporary chamber music has
remained an important focus of the ensemble throughout its existence. Recent
recordings include CD's for Hat Art Records of Switzerland featuring the
music of John Cage (1995), Lou Harrison (1997), and James Tenney (1997).
Arts Education...
In 1985, Maelström embraced another long-term commitment, to bring
percussion and contemporary music to school-aged children. The ensemble
has crafted highly successful programs that have been offered through the
Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts, Young Audiences in Buffalo and Rochester,
the Arts In Education Institute, and the Southern Tier Institute for the
Arts. Maelström has developed its own arts in education program, the
"Day Of Percussion for Schools and Communities." This program
for middle schools and high schools consists of a full day of assemblies,
workshops, hands-on clinics, rehearsals, and coaching sessions, concluding
with a formal concert and collaborations with student ensembles.
The Series...
In 1987, Maelström began producing an annual concert series. As
part of this series, the ensemble has collaborated with composers, William
Albright, Nils Vigeland, and Matthew Harris, the Second Hand Dance Company,
the Amherst Saxophone Quartet, and percussionist/composer, John Bergamo.
Maelström's innovative programming and artistic excellence were quickly
recognized and supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the
New York State Council on the Arts. In 1989, the ensemble received a prestigious
3 year Residency Grant from Chamber Music America to expand on the concert
series and develop community support. In recent years, the series has received
additional support from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.
New Directions, Programs, and Venues...
Maelström's current line-up of musicians coalesced when long-time
members, Gary Rutkowski and Bob Accurso recruited Kirk Brundage in 1993
and John Bacon, Jr. in 1994. In addition to their extensive new music backgrounds,
each member contributes a variety of experiences and expertise, from African,
Latin American music and jazz to rock, classical, ragtime, and contemporary
fusion. Maelström found that it could offer very different programming
from one concert to the next or from one piece to the next. This culminated
in the creation of its four current programs: Jazz Alternative; New Music;
Pops/Variety; and Whirled Music. Maelström has consistently utilized
this diversity of repertoire to reach out to new audiences, performing in
concert halls, universities, outdoor festivals, and a variety of community
celebrations. A Maelström performance appeals to the broadest range
of concert-goers, on an artistic level and as a most enjoyable evening of
entertainment. It's creative. It's contemporary. It's exciting. It's unique.
It's more than percussion music, it's great music played on percussion instruments.
Maelström and Master Drummers
www.maelstrompercussion.com