Grammy Award-winning concert percussionist Evelyn Glennie will be the featured performer and instructor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Young Percussionist Masterclass set for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 5, in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.
A Scottish citizen, Glennie is renowned as the first person to successfully maintain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, in spite of the fact that she is deaf.
Glennie’s first album, Bartok’s Sonata for two Pianos and Percussion, won a Grammy in 1988. Since then, she has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award, and won a second Grammy for a recording with Bela Fleck.
Currently on her 12th solo CD, Shadow Behind the Iron Sun, Glennie has been featured on 22 recordings during her career. Her latest work was based on an improvisational concept.
Performing at least 100 times year worldwide, Glennie has collaborated with various conductors and artists, most notably Sting, Bjork, Nana Vasconcelos, Kodo, Bobby McFerrin, Kings Singer, Mormon Taberbacle Choir and Fred Frith.
The New York Times has called Glennie a “phenomenon of a performer, and the Washington Post wrote: “If you’ve never experienced Glennie, you shouldn’t miss her. If you’ve heard her before, chances are you already have your tickets.”
Glennie has also composed 133 original works for use in concert performance, films and television. She was nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award, an English version of the Oscars.
In 1993, Glennie was named an Officer of the British Empire for her services to music, and she has received more than 70 international awards for her work.
The 2007 Young Percussionist Masterclass is open to all junior and senior high school percussionists. The event carries no charge, but registration is required for participants. Registration forms are available from Dr. Ron Crocker at crockerr@unk.edu or from Dr. David Nabb at nabbd@unk.edu. Sponsored by the UNK Faculty Senate Artists and Lecturers Committee, the Nebraska Arts Council, the UNK Office of Sponsored Programs, the Nebraska Very Special Arts and the 2007 UNK World Affairs Conference.
