Historic Percussion Ensembles!!!
The History of Percussion Ensembles with Dr. Piascik ...
Percussion Ensemble Music is Dr. Piascik!
Ever since he was handed the tambourine part to Three Brothers, by Michael Colgrass, Dr. Piascik was hooked. The opportunity to perform with the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Raymond Des Roches, was an experience that inspired Dr. Piascik to continue offering the highest of quality percussion ensembles to his students and the community.
Dr. Piascik's vision is to provide an advanced chamber experience that treats percussion as its own orchestra or string quartet. There is so much wonderful literature written for percussion on all kinds of instruments and more is being composed daily. It is a very exciting time for percussion!
After finishing his graduate work at Stony Brook University, Dr. Piascik moved to California and became the director of percussion for the California Youth Symphony (CYS). At this time he founded the first CYS Percussion Ensemble in 1995. The CYS Percussion Ensemble quickly became known in the San Fransisco Bay Area for high quality performances. The group had the honor of receiving many glowing reviews, written commissions, and honor festival performances.
Several pieces were composed for the CYS Percussion Ensemble, such as Paul Davis and Jody Rockmaker, just to name a few. The group was frequently asked to perform as special guests on concerts at local universities and new music series. Dr. Piascik's favorite concert was performing a piece by John Cage in a Santa Cruz garden with percussion ensemble and dancers!
In 2000, Dr. Piascik moved back to New Jersey with his wife and two young children. The move inspired Dr. Piascik to focus his time more on music education and his family, thus putting his performing career on hold. However, his percussion ensemble continued to thrive through his private studio. Dr. Piascik organized several "Percussion Discussion" concerts, church events, and even an entire church service titled "Why Music and the Arts?"
In September of 2007, Dr. Kenneth Piascik approached the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) with the idea of starting a percussion ensemble. Since his arrival to New Jersey in 2000, Dr. Piascik had been attempting to find a way to bring all of the talented percussionists from all over New Jersey to perform advanced literature for percussion. NJYS was thrilled with the idea and the NJYS Percussion Ensemble was established.
The debut "Concert I" took place on December 6, 2009 and the ensemble also performed on all the NJYS orchestra concerts to introduce themselves to the community. The group performed on many festivals and Percussive Arts Society concerts. At one performance, adjudicated by Gordon Stout, the ensemble was invited to Ithaca College to perform a full concert and present a masterclass for the students of Ithaca's music education department. The successful tour ended with the group visiting Fall Creek Marimbas for a tour and an education on how marimbas are tuned and made.
In April of 2016 we were honored to return to Ithaca College and perform Gordon Stout's piece "Something to do with Grace." Mr. Stout also performed his piece on our concert on May 1, 2016.
After returning from another successful (receiving 1st place) tour to Vienna in 2017, Dr. Piascik decided to resign from NJYS as Percussion Director and focus more on his performing and the percussion ensemble. Dr. Piascik's then started "The Piascik Percussion Group" to continue to excite his private students, BRMS students, and the community in eclitic concerts, festivals, tours, and masterclasses.
Please check Dr. Piascik's calendar to attend our next concert. We would love to see you!
Ever since he was handed the tambourine part to Three Brothers, by Michael Colgrass, Dr. Piascik was hooked. The opportunity to perform with the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Raymond Des Roches, was an experience that inspired Dr. Piascik to continue offering the highest of quality percussion ensembles to his students and the community.
Dr. Piascik's vision is to provide an advanced chamber experience that treats percussion as its own orchestra or string quartet. There is so much wonderful literature written for percussion on all kinds of instruments and more is being composed daily. It is a very exciting time for percussion!
After finishing his graduate work at Stony Brook University, Dr. Piascik moved to California and became the director of percussion for the California Youth Symphony (CYS). At this time he founded the first CYS Percussion Ensemble in 1995. The CYS Percussion Ensemble quickly became known in the San Fransisco Bay Area for high quality performances. The group had the honor of receiving many glowing reviews, written commissions, and honor festival performances.
Several pieces were composed for the CYS Percussion Ensemble, such as Paul Davis and Jody Rockmaker, just to name a few. The group was frequently asked to perform as special guests on concerts at local universities and new music series. Dr. Piascik's favorite concert was performing a piece by John Cage in a Santa Cruz garden with percussion ensemble and dancers!
In 2000, Dr. Piascik moved back to New Jersey with his wife and two young children. The move inspired Dr. Piascik to focus his time more on music education and his family, thus putting his performing career on hold. However, his percussion ensemble continued to thrive through his private studio. Dr. Piascik organized several "Percussion Discussion" concerts, church events, and even an entire church service titled "Why Music and the Arts?"
In September of 2007, Dr. Kenneth Piascik approached the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) with the idea of starting a percussion ensemble. Since his arrival to New Jersey in 2000, Dr. Piascik had been attempting to find a way to bring all of the talented percussionists from all over New Jersey to perform advanced literature for percussion. NJYS was thrilled with the idea and the NJYS Percussion Ensemble was established.
The debut "Concert I" took place on December 6, 2009 and the ensemble also performed on all the NJYS orchestra concerts to introduce themselves to the community. The group performed on many festivals and Percussive Arts Society concerts. At one performance, adjudicated by Gordon Stout, the ensemble was invited to Ithaca College to perform a full concert and present a masterclass for the students of Ithaca's music education department. The successful tour ended with the group visiting Fall Creek Marimbas for a tour and an education on how marimbas are tuned and made.
In April of 2016 we were honored to return to Ithaca College and perform Gordon Stout's piece "Something to do with Grace." Mr. Stout also performed his piece on our concert on May 1, 2016.
After returning from another successful (receiving 1st place) tour to Vienna in 2017, Dr. Piascik decided to resign from NJYS as Percussion Director and focus more on his performing and the percussion ensemble. Dr. Piascik's then started "The Piascik Percussion Group" to continue to excite his private students, BRMS students, and the community in eclitic concerts, festivals, tours, and masterclasses.
Please check Dr. Piascik's calendar to attend our next concert. We would love to see you!