Panel of Adjudicators - TIERRAS Percussion Competition
Panel of Adjudicators - TIERRAS Percussion Competition
Blake Tyson
Blake Tyson
Blake Tyson has written some of the most popular works in the percussion repertoire. His compositions are performed in concert halls around the world, and his own performances have taken him to five continents and over thirty states. He has performed in Egypt at the Ministry of Culture in Cairo and the Library of Alexandria, at international festivals in South Africa and South America, at the Beijing Central Conservatory, and in Norway as part of the European Cultural Capital celebrations. In addition, he has been a featured artist at numerous Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, PAS Days of Percussion, the Northwest Percussion Festival, the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar, and a member of the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp.
Blake Tyson has written some of the most popular works in the percussion repertoire. His compositions are performed in concert halls around the world, and his own performances have taken him to five continents and over thirty states. He has performed in Egypt at the Ministry of Culture in Cairo and the Library of Alexandria, at international festivals in South Africa and South America, at the Beijing Central Conservatory, and in Norway as part of the European Cultural Capital celebrations. In addition, he has been a featured artist at numerous Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, PAS Days of Percussion, the Northwest Percussion Festival, the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar, and a member of the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp.
Blake Tyson is a concert artist and clinician for Malletech, where he has his own line of signature mallets, and for the Zildjian Company. He holds a DMA from the Eastman School of Music, where he was also awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate. He holds a Master of Music degree from Kent State University and the degree of Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Alabama. His teachers include Marjorie Engle, Peggy Benkeser, Larry Mathis, Michael Burritt, Halim El-Dabh, and John Beck. He has served on the faculties of New Mexico State University and the University of Alabama. Since 2001, Blake has been a member of the faculty of the University of Central Arkansas.
Blake Tyson is a concert artist and clinician for Malletech, where he has his own line of signature mallets, and for the Zildjian Company. He holds a DMA from the Eastman School of Music, where he was also awarded the prestigious Performer's Certificate. He holds a Master of Music degree from Kent State University and the degree of Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Alabama. His teachers include Marjorie Engle, Peggy Benkeser, Larry Mathis, Michael Burritt, Halim El-Dabh, and John Beck. He has served on the faculties of New Mexico State University and the University of Alabama. Since 2001, Blake has been a member of the faculty of the University of Central Arkansas.
Jennifer Bellor
Jennifer Bellor
Described by Textura as “that rare composer whose music manages to be instantly listenable and emotionally resonant without any compromise to its sophistication,” Jennifer Bellor is a versatile composer whose music draws on a variety of influences in addition to classical music, such as progressive rock, pop, and jazz. Some of her favorite projects have included collaborations with classical and jazz musician, visual artists, animators, videographers, radio actors, and robotic arm engineers. Her music has been presented by ensembles, organizations and festivals including Washington National Opera, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Clocks in Motion Percussion, American Composers Orchestra Jazz Composer Orchestra Institute Readings, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra featuring Grace Kelly, Carnegie Hall DCINY Series, Transient Canvas, Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, UNLV Wind Orchestra, Eastman Saxophone Project, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Saxophone Ensemble, Finland’s Kaarina Week, and many other soloists, chamber groups, and large ensembles in the US and abroad. Her music video Oneira in collaboration with animator Christine Banna was featured on I Care if You Listen, and it was officially selected for screenings, such as the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival, the SFC Film Festival in Australia, was a finalist for best music film at the Munich music video festival, and won Best Fantasy at the Mad Monster Film Fest.
Described by Textura as “that rare composer whose music manages to be instantly listenable and emotionally resonant without any compromise to its sophistication,” Jennifer Bellor is a versatile composer whose music draws on a variety of influences in addition to classical music, such as progressive rock, pop, and jazz. Some of her favorite projects have included collaborations with classical and jazz musician, visual artists, animators, videographers, radio actors, and robotic arm engineers. Her music has been presented by ensembles, organizations and festivals including Washington National Opera, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Clocks in Motion Percussion, American Composers Orchestra Jazz Composer Orchestra Institute Readings, Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra featuring Grace Kelly, Carnegie Hall DCINY Series, Transient Canvas, Eastman New Jazz Ensemble, UNLV Wind Orchestra, Eastman Saxophone Project, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Saxophone Ensemble, Finland’s Kaarina Week, and many other soloists, chamber groups, and large ensembles in the US and abroad. Her music video Oneira in collaboration with animator Christine Banna was featured on I Care if You Listen, and it was officially selected for screenings, such as the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival, the SFC Film Festival in Australia, was a finalist for best music film at the Munich music video festival, and won Best Fantasy at the Mad Monster Film Fest.
Bellor has also received recognition for many of her compositions and has three commercially released albums featuring her original music. Her debut album Stay (2016), which is a melting pot of different music styles largely based on poetry, was featured on NewMusicBox’s 2016 Staff picks and was praised as having the ability to “maintain a highly individual identity without needing to take refuge in pre-post-genre musical silos.” Her second album, “Reflections at Dusk,” showcases instrumental music inspired by the Nevada sunsets and has been described as “crepuscular,” “mystical,” and “magical.” It was released by Innova Recordings November 2019, and nabbed the #20 spot in the classical/opera category in textura’s 2020 year-end roundup. Reviewing Oneira, Textura stated, “True to form, her writing is melodically alluring as well as rousing and infectious. Her writing is more identified by an expressive personal signature than allegiance to a particular genre or tradition.”
Bellor has also received recognition for many of her compositions and has three commercially released albums featuring her original music. Her debut album Stay (2016), which is a melting pot of different music styles largely based on poetry, was featured on NewMusicBox’s 2016 Staff picks and was praised as having the ability to “maintain a highly individual identity without needing to take refuge in pre-post-genre musical silos.” Her second album, “Reflections at Dusk,” showcases instrumental music inspired by the Nevada sunsets and has been described as “crepuscular,” “mystical,” and “magical.” It was released by Innova Recordings November 2019, and nabbed the #20 spot in the classical/opera category in textura’s 2020 year-end roundup. Reviewing Oneira, Textura stated, “True to form, her writing is melodically alluring as well as rousing and infectious. Her writing is more identified by an expressive personal signature than allegiance to a particular genre or tradition.”
Bellor earned a PhD in music composition at Eastman School of Music, a Master of Music degree in composition at Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Cornell University. She is on the music composition faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and artistic director of the new music series, Nextet. For more information, visit www.jenniferbellor.com.
Bellor earned a PhD in music composition at Eastman School of Music, a Master of Music degree in composition at Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Cornell University. She is on the music composition faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and artistic director of the new music series, Nextet. For more information, visit www.jenniferbellor.com.
TODD MEEHAN
TODD MEEHAN
TODD MEEHAN serves as Professor of Percussion and Division Director of Instrumental Studies at the Baylor University School of Music. He was a founding member of So Percussion and the Meehan/ Perkins Duo and has performed extensively throughout the world. As a chamber musician and soloist, Todd has premiered more than 50 new works for percussion and has released recordings on Bridge, Cantaloupe, New World, Albany, Physical Editions, and Centaur Records.
TODD MEEHAN serves as Professor of Percussion and Division Director of Instrumental Studies at the Baylor University School of Music. He was a founding member of So Percussion and the Meehan/ Perkins Duo and has performed extensively throughout the world. As a chamber musician and soloist, Todd has premiered more than 50 new works for percussion and has released recordings on Bridge, Cantaloupe, New World, Albany, Physical Editions, and Centaur Records.
As an orchestral musician, Todd has performed with the Waco Symphony Orchestra, Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and is an alumnus of the Pacific Music Festival and the Round Top International Festival Institute, where he now serves on the faculty each summer. He is the founder of Liquidrum, a percussion company focused on performance, pedagogy, and percussion lifestyle. Todd is the author/composer of Percussion Accessories Vol. 1 — Method for Tambourine and Triangle and is the creator of the popular Liquidrum Practice Journal.
As an orchestral musician, Todd has performed with the Waco Symphony Orchestra, Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and is an alumnus of the Pacific Music Festival and the Round Top International Festival Institute, where he now serves on the faculty each summer. He is the founder of Liquidrum, a percussion company focused on performance, pedagogy, and percussion lifestyle. Todd is the author/composer of Percussion Accessories Vol. 1 — Method for Tambourine and Triangle and is the creator of the popular Liquidrum Practice Journal.
Todd earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Music degree from Yale University. He performs on Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Freer Percussion products, Remo drumheads, Black Swamp accessories, and Beetle Percussion products.
Todd earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin and his Master of Music degree from Yale University. He performs on Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Freer Percussion products, Remo drumheads, Black Swamp accessories, and Beetle Percussion products.
