2007/2008 Lancaster High School Percussion Ensemble
Mr. Bruce Gerken, Director
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The Lancaster High School Percussion Ensemble has been in existence since 1978 and its select personnel presently consists of sixteen percussionists, one piano, one keyboard bass and one synthesizer player. The group, which rehearses two to four times a week after school depending on their performance schedule, originally preformed only pop and jazz music and was formed to inspire students to further their skills in all aspects of performance, with emphasis on the keyboard idiom. The group has far exceeded its original expectations and is quite popular throughout the school and community for its performance of standard, jazz, and pop music. They have done exceptionally well in contests where they have received over seventy Superior (1) Ratings in class A at the Ohio Music Education Association Solo and Ensemble Contest.
2009/2010 Schedule
February 13th - Solo & Ensemble Contest
March 30th - Elementary School Tour
May 14 & 15th - Percussion Ensemble Concert
Other significant performances for the group
Include: the 1981 OMEA State Convention in Cleveland; the Miami University Percussion Ensemble Festival (1983): appearing with the Capital University Percussion Ensemble, featuring world renowned Xylophonist Bob Becker (1983); the 1984 OMEA State Convention in Dayton, where they Commissioned and gave the premier performance of Phil Fanini’s Afro-Amero; the Percussive Arts Society “Day of Percussion” in Ohio (1985) – this marked the first time a high school group had preformed for this event; Percussive Arts Society First Annual “Day of Percussion” in West Virginia (1985); the 39th Annual Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago (1985); The Ohio State University “Festival of Percussion Ensembles” in 1986; the 1987 Music Educators National Conference North-Central/Minnesota Music Education Association State Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota; the 1987 Ohio Music Education Association State Convention in Cincinnati; the 1989 Music Educators National Conference North-Central/Ohio Music Education Association in Columbus; the 1989 Music Teachers National Association National Convention in Wichita, Kansas; the 1990 Music Educators National Conference in Washington DC; the 44th Annual Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in 1990; The Ohio State University “Day of Percussion” in 1991; the 1992 Ohio Music Education Association State Convention in Columbus; the American Association of School Administrators National Convention in Orlando, Florida (1993); the Percussive Arts Society “Day of Percussion” in Ohio (1994); the first Annual Percussive Arts Society “Day of Percussion” in St. Louis, Missouri (1994); the 1995 Music Educators National Conference North Central/Indiana Music Educators Association Convention in Indianapolis, where they gave the Premiere performance of Tom Gauger’s “Celebration”; the 1996 Ohio Music Education Association State Convention in Dayton where they commissioned and gave the premiere performance of David Gillingham’s “Concerto for Percussion Ensemble”; the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools National Convention in Chicago (1996); the 1996 Kiwanis International Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah and the National Association of Elementary School Principals in San Antonio, Texas (1997); the 1999 Music Educators National Conference North Central/Ohio Music Education Association Convention in Cincinnati; the National Association of Elementary School Principals Convention in San Francisco, California (1999); the 53rd Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago (1999); and, the American Association of School Administrators National Convention in Orlando, Florida (2001); the National Association of Elementary School Principals Convention in San Francisco, California (2004); the Ohio Music Educators Association State Convention in Cincinnati (2005); the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina (2007); the Ohio Music Educators Association State Convention in Cincinnati (2008); the Spoleto Festival Finale in Charleston, South Carolina (2009).
In addition, in May 1995, the group was the guests of Educational, Community and Government Officials from the Orenburg Region of Russia. During the nine-day tour, the ensemble gave several concerts at various locations in Orenburg and were involved with many festivities and activities that surrounded the 50th Anniversary of V-E Day.
2006 Spring Concert Featuring Ohio State University Dancers
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Guest artists and conductors that have appeared with the group include the following:
Charlie Adams, Gregg Bissonette, Phil Faini, Steve Houghton, Guy Remonko, Ed Shaugnessy
Ronald P. Socciarelli, Steve Smith, Jared Spears, Richard Syracus, Allen White and Zoro the Drummer
Ensemble Concerts are Hot
Updated July 11th, 2009