Pre-Professional Opportunities

Pre-Professional Opportunities at Millikin

• Play in one of six percussion ensembles: Two chamber ensembles (explained below), a Guatemalan/Mexican marimba ensemble, a ragtime xylophone group, a classical marimba ensemble, and a world percussion ensemble (explained below).

• Perform with traditional large ensembles (wind ensemble, jazz band, & orchestra), plus a variety of small ensembles including jazz combos, vocal jazz groups, and a pop/rock ensemble.

• Participate in a Millitrax recording session as song writer, engineer, producer, or performer.

• Participate in First Step Records, the University’s record label and publishing company.

 

Chamber Percussion Ensembles

The Millikin Chamber Percussion Ensembles, under the direction of Brian Justison, have been widely acclaimed for their performances of concert repertoire for percussion instruments. They are a recent winner (2003) of the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition and were selected to perform at the 2008 PASIC Focus Day session. Performances at numerous regional music festivals are also part of their activities. Additionally, their debut CD, Best Kept Secret, received laudable reviews from both Gramophone Magazine and Percussive Notes. Each semester, one of four sub-groups are drawn from the core of this ensemble––a classical marimba quartet, a ragtime xylophone group, a Guatemalan/Mexican marimba ensemble, and an experimental music ensemble. The group has premiered many new works, including three such premieres at its PASIC 2003 showcase concert. In sum, these ensembles explore the diverse world of percussion music from the novel to the sublime.

 

World Percussion Ensemble

The World Percussion Ensemble provides students with the opportunity to explore playing techniques and rhythms from around the world with a special emphasis on African and Afro-Caribbean music. In addition to offering authentic world music performances, the group's interest in combining elements of western and non-western music has given rise to an eclectic mix of jazz, pop, and world music which has engaged audiences throughout the region. The group’s first CD, Latin Jazz Project, received a laudable review in Percussive Notes (December 2006). The group’s latest release, Global Perspectives, is now available at First Step Records.