"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 :)