News from campus and beyond

Percussion Ensemble in concert April 9


Last updated April 6, 2016

By Tina Underwood

The Furman University Percussion Ensemble will present its annual spring concert Saturday, April 9, at 8 p.m. in Daniel Recital Hall on the Furman campus.

The Furman Music Department event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students, and are available at the door.

The concert is performed by the 14-member Percussion Ensemble and 13 members of the Percussion Methods class. It is directed by Furman’s Dr. Omar Carmenates, and features a mix of contemporary music by Andrea Mazzariello, Chad Heiny (with a World Premiere Performance of “Bad JuJu”), John Psathas, Jason Treuting, Ney Rosauro, Blake Tyson, and Benjamin T. Finley.

For more information about the event, contact the Furman University Music Department at (864) 294-2086, or email the department at FurmanMusic@furman.edu.

About Dr. Omar Carmenates:
Carmenates joined the Furman University music faculty in 2008. He is Associate Professor of Percussion at the university where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program including classical, jazz, and world percussion studies. Carmenates is also a versatile performer with a strong interest in contemporary solo and chamber music.

His debut solo CD, entitled The Gaia Theory, is released through Rattle Records and features premiere recordings of works by Scott Lindroth, John Psathas, Christopher Adler, David Skidmore, Christopher Deane, and Brian Nozny. Carmenates can also be heard on the Cantaloupe Records release of John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit for 9-99 percussionists, a work that he both cocommissioned and directed in its United States premiere. Forthcoming recordings also include a double-disc release entitled The John Psathas Percussion Project, featuring percussion arrangements of works by New Zealand’s most renowned composer, John Psathas, as well as a collaboration with Furman Univesity’s David E. Shi Center for Sustainability to record Matthew Burtner’s Six Ecoacoustic Quintets with the Furman Percussion Ensemble.

Carmenates holds a Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University, a Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida.

Carmenates is a proud endorser/artist for Grover Pro Percussion, Vic Firth, Inc., Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, and Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments.

Contact Us
Clinton Colmenares
Director of News and Media Strategy