4th Annual Asheville Percussion Festival Set for This Weekend

Asheville Percussion Festival is being held this weekend, June 19-21, 2015 in beautiful Asheville, NC. Come enjoy a creative environment where percussionists and dancers of all traditions, from around the globe, gather to explore, create and innovate. All workshops on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be held at the Odyssey Community School.

The Masters Concert, which will feature collaborative compositions from our world-renowned teaching artists, will be held at the Diana Wortham Theatre on Saturday June 20 at 8pm. Percussionists wanting more instruction and collaboration will find it in a week-long intensive program which begins Monday, June 15 at the Odyssey location. The thrilling line up for this year's festival includes percussion artist BASHIRI JOHNSON who is unquestionably one of the most visible and recorded percussionists on the planet. Bashiri has performed and recorded with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Steve Winwood, The Rolling Stones, Gloria Estefan, Whitney Houston, Paul Simon, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Queen, Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Nina Simone. Also joining our percussion family this year is percussionist Jeff Sipe who performs in a variety of genres, including Southern rock, jam bands, avant-garde rock, avant-garde jazz, and even progressive bluegrass and the dazzling and charismatic Djembe/Conga artist Monette Marino-Keta. Joyfully included in this year's stellar line-up are Asheville local favorites award winning re-percussionist Billy Jonas, River Guerguerian and "Voted Best World Music group in Western North Carolina 2013" by the Mountain XPress: Free Planet Radio. Free Planet Radio was awarded a prestigious grant from the Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program to compose a three-movement piece with special guests The Opal String Quartet. The premiere of the piece will be on the June 20th Masters Concert at the Diana Wortham Theatre. This will be the first year that the festival will also include an art show, displaying colorful and creative works by regional and national artists at the Odyssey Community School throughout the Festival.

This Year's Complete Performing Artist Lineup:

BASHIRI JOHNSON | MONETTEMARINO-KEITA | JEFF SIPE | MIRANDA RONDEAU | RIVER GUERGUERIAN |ADAM MAALOUF | APARNA KESHAVIAH | SUPHALA | FREE PLANET RADIO | BILLY JONAS | BRANDI MIZILCA | MATTHEW RICHMOND | KEVORK GUERGUERIAN

There will be over 20 Workshops for percussionists of all levels. Topics will include global rhythms on variety of drums, performance techniques, improvising, composing, and dancing taught by world-renowned performers. There are many ticketing options. Tickets for all events and workshops are available here: http://www.ashevillepercussionfestival.com/tickets/

A Weekend Festival Pass includes entry into all workshops on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Odyssey Community School and the concert at the Diana Wortham Theatre on Saturday evening. The Intensive Program includes 5 hours of classes/rehearsals per day Monday June 15 - Thursday June 18, a weekend festival pass, and performing a group piece in the Saturday concert. The Intensive Program is for experienced percussionists. There will also be an open Collaboration Room for participants to get together, jam, and share ideas.

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