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Timpani and Percussion (Continued)

Timpani and Percussion Open Day - 26th June 2007

Neil Percy Dip RCM, ARCM, Hon ARAM

(Picture: Photo of Neil Percy)

Principal Percussionist with the London Symphony Orchestra, Neil studied at Chetham’s School of Music, and jazz and composition at Eastman School of Music before continuing his studies at the Royal College of Music. He won the Bronze Medal in the first Shell/LSO scholarship for Timpani and Percussion. As a player he has worked closely with many artists and conductors including Pierre Boulez, André Previn, Elvis Costello and John Williams, and as a soloist with Steve Reich, Ravi Shankar, Kent Nagano and Elgar Howarth. As a clinician and educator he has given master-classes in Europe, the USA and Asia, and has coached many leading youth orchestras including the PMF, National Musicians Symphony and National Youth Orchestras. Head of Department since 2000.

The Course

The Timpani and Percussion Department has a worldwide reputation for its provision for students, and for its training in the multi-faceted world of timpani and percussion. The members of staff include principal players with London’s leading orchestras, international soloists, and leading session musicians, all of whom are active in music making of the highest professional standard.

Orchestral training on timpani and percussion instruments is the core component, and the Academy’s range of orchestras and ensembles, together with its extensive range of quality instruments and practice facilities, present outstanding opportunities.

Timpani and Percussion lessons are complemented by regular faculty activities such as repertoire, performance classes and master-classes, together with chamber music coaching for percussion ensembles and mallet groups. Areas of related study include classes in Latin American and Ethnic percussion and drumset, emphasising rhythmic awareness and movement, in both solo and ensemble situations.

The Academy has an extensive provision for marimba and solo percussion. Regular master-classes from many of the world’s leading tuned percussion specialists offer excellent opportunities for the aspiring tuned percussion student. Recent visitors have included Keiko Abe, She-e Wu and Juanjo Guillem and David Freidman.

Eminent soloists, orchestral principals and ensemble leaders are regular visitors to the Academy, and master-classes have been given by Airto, Birger Sulsbruck, Evelyn Glennie, Oladum Ensemble (Brazil), Anthony Kerr, Christopher Lamb (Principal Percussion, NewYork Philharmonic), Rainer Seegers (Principal Timpani, Berlin Philharmonic), Peter Erskine, Joe Locke and Marinus Komst (Principal Timpani, Royal Concertegouw Orchestra).

Students are eligible for the Academy’s annual Zildjian Cymbal Prizes. First prize is $2,000 and second prize is a visit to Zildjian International in the UK, to select cymbals of their choice.

The Royal Academy of Music is grateful for the generous support of Zildjian Cymbals and Yamaha-Kemble UK.

Your Audition (see p.56 for general details)

Detailed requirements are available at www.ram.ac.uk and from the Registry. Postgraduate students may opt to study timpani only or percussion only.

The Teachers

Professors of Timpani
Simon Carrington GRSM, ARCM, Hon ARAM (Principal Timpani, London Philharmonic Orchestra)
David Searcy (former Principal Timpani, La Scala Milan)

Professor of Baroque Timpani
Benedict Hoffnung ARAM (Principal Timpani, London Mozart Players)

Professors of Percussion
Neil Percy Dip RCM, ARCM, Hon ARAM (Principal Percussion, London Symphony Orchestra)
Simon Carrington GRSM, ARCM Hon ARAM (Principal Timpani, London Philharmonic Orchestra)
Stephen Quigley ARAM (Principal Percussion, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
Andrew Barclay (Co-principal Percussion, London Philharmonic Orchestra)

Professor of Solo Repertoire and Concerti
Colin Currie (international soloist)

Professor of Marimba
Eric Sammut (international soloist)

Professors of Drum Set, Latin American and Ethnic Percussion
Paul Clarvis Hon ARAM (international soloist and recording artist)
David Hassell Hon ARAM (session musician and renowned clinician)

International Drum Set Consultant
Peter Erskine (international soloist and recording artist)

2006–2007 Highlights

Masterclasses given by Claire Edwards, Dave Mattacks, Dave Friedman, Martin France, Albert Alfonso (bodhran) and Kuljit Bhamra (tablas)
Steve Reich birthday concert
Latin Jazz Big Band concert featuring the music of Tito Puente

Past Students
Dame Evelyn Glennie OBE (’85), Makoto Nakura (’93), Colin Currie (’98), Simon Lowden (’01).

Academy percussion alumni perform regularly as orchestral and session players all over the world.