"March" from the Nutcracker Suite

Performed by drumfill junior

"drumfill" is a community percussion ensemble based in Sydney, Australia. They are directed by Tim Ferrier and all taught by Tessa Gutierrez.
 

The drumfill junior percussion ensemble comprises students aged 6 to 11 years old and in grades 1 to 6 in primary school.
This is their award winning performance from the 2012 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod, which is run by Optimum Percussion and was hosted by Scotch College in Hawthorn, Victoria.

"March" from the Nutcracker Suite was composed by Tchaikovsky and arranged for percussion ensemble by Tim Ferrier. We hope you enjoy this performance!

2012 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod Results

2012 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod Results

Last weekend my students and I traveled to Melbourne for the 2012 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod. This is an annual event organized by Optimum Percussion (in Burwood, NSW Australia) and was kindly hosted this year by Scotch College in Hawthorn.

Both days were extremely exciting with fantastically musical performances from young, school-aged percussionists from all over Australia. I am very proud to report that all my students played to the best of their abilities and were awarded with the following:

Intermediate Drum Kit
Encouragement Award = Alistair H.

Junior 2-mallets
Encouragement Award = Alistair H.

Primary Solos

1st Place = Ruby S.

2nd Place = Catherine P.
3rd Place = Patrick S.

Primary Percussion Ensemble
1st Place = drumfill junior

Junior High School Percussion Ensemble

2nd Place = drumfill intermediate

I am very proud of the efforts of all my students and commend every competitor that entered an event, their teachers for encouraging and instructing them and the conductors who were able to shape young percussionists into such fantastic musicians. 

It is always fabulous to see students of varying ages performing with such musicality and promising technique. 

The future of percussion in Australia is secure.

I will be uploading video footage of my students in performance. Stay tuned if you are interested.

Thank you :)

2011 Tessa's drumfill students at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod

In 2011 Tessa's drumfill percussion ensembles participated in the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod sponsored by Optimum Percussion and held at MLC Girl's School in Burwood, NSW.

Tessa's drumfill students won their two sections, Primary-aged Percussion Ensemble and Junior High School Percussion Ensemble in a field of very exciting performances from schools around Australia.

The drumfill primary percussion ensemble group performed:
"Under the Big Top" by Chris Crockarell
and
"Brazil" by Ary Barroso and arranged by Diane Downs and Rick Mattingly

Chris Crockarell is a co-founder of the popular Row-Loff Publishing company.

Diane Downs is the driving force behind the very successful Louisville Leopard Percussionists.

The drumfill junior high school percussion ensemble performed:
A selection of movements from The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens:
"The Lion" arranged by Tim Ferrier
"Aquarium" arranged by Tim Ferrier
"Fossils" arranged by Tim Ferrier
and
"Caravan" by Duke Ellington, Duke Irving and Juan Tizol, arranged by Diane Downs and Rick Mattingly

Their performances can be seen in this drumfill video compiled by the father of one of the drumfill students:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ORRS2SpII

Please enjoy and stay tuned for more exciting performances :)

Meet the Wind Orchestra: Sound & Space - Events Calendar - The Big Diary - ABC Online

Meet the Wind Orchestra: Sound & Space - Events Calendar - The Big Diary - ABC Online

This is my next concert, performing with the award winning Open A-Grade Australian and NSW State Champion Castle Hill RSL North West Wind Ensemble.

It is an event aimed at primary- aged school children and includes an interactive performance of many popular movie, television and classical themes. Each section of the wind ensemble will be featured and there is a chance to conduct the band!

Sunday October 30th at Dural near Sydney Australia.
Hope to see you there :)

My newest video - please vote for me!

If you enjoy my video please cast a vote on the official YouTube voting page:

http://www.youtube.com/user/OpenUniversitiesAu

and look for my video in the ones listed under the "Vote" TAB.
Click the green "thumbs up" for "like".

Many thanks :)

C-Jam Blues Arr. Diane Downs Performed by drumfill

"Oye Como Va" performed by drumfill 2009

Here is a video from 2009 of my youngest students performing at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod. They were 6, 7, 8 and 9 years of age at the time and came first place in their section.

C-JAM BLUES
Arranged by Diane Downs
Conducted by Tim Ferrier



The second piece performed at the 2009 Australian Percussion Eisteddfod, is "Oye Como Va" and was performed by students aged from 5 to 11 years.

My 2011 students are competing again this year and are aged between 5 and 11 years of age for the Primary-aged section (Kindergarten to Year 6 grade school).

The older group of students is aged between 12 and 15 years of age and are entered in the Junior High School-aged section.

If you are in Sydney Australia the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod sponsored by Optimum Percussion is being held on the weekend of August 27 and 28 at MLC Girl's School Burwood NSW.

Enjoy the video :)

2009 drumfill percussion ensemble 1st Place
Australian Percussion Eisteddfod

2011 Winners of Australian Open A-Grade Concert Band Championships

Last Easter I joined the concert band I perform with: North West Wind Ensemble in Adelaide SA for the 2011 Australian National Band Championships.

We were one of four bands in Open A-Grade which is the highest level of performance for a concert band in Australia.

I am happy to let you all know that we won under the superb direction of our Musical Director James Brice.

Here is the test piece which all bands in Open A-Grade had to perform.
It is called Year of the Dragon by Phillip Sparke:



We achieved 198 out of a possible 200 points!
If you listen carefully you will hear the glockenspiel (high pitched metallic sound).
I play all the glockenspiel parts except for 4 notes at the start of the 2nd movement (which were written on a different part).

Hope you enjoy it!