Career Highlights
- The 2006 Festival de México
- The 21-pc WAITIKI Orchestrotica I founded went to Mexico City to participate in the Festival de Mexico 2006. We performed a set of my own Esquivel transcriptions at the Teatro de la Ciudad de México. more...
- Boston Pops "WGBH Orchestra"
- Performed as section percussionist in freelance orchestra led by Pat Hollenbeck (Boston Pops) at the opening ceremonies of WGBH TV's new studios. Fall 2007.
- 2005 Hawaii International Jazz Festival
- WAITIKI and Gabe Baltazar (Stan Kenton) headlined the closing show with a tribute concert to Martin Denny (I played piano). July 2005.
- Newton Symphony at Carnegie Hall, NYC
- Performed at Carnegie Hall as a section percussionist in a special performance of the "Yellow River Cantata." Fall 2002. Photo
- Solo concerto appearances with Sun Cities Symphony of the West Valley (Sun City, AZ) and the Northern Arizona University Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ)
- Winner of the 1999 Jennings Butterfield Young Artist Competition and NAU Orchestra Competition with Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Vibraphone and Orchestra.
- Notable performances with:
- Northern soul artists: Archie Bell and the Drells, The Del-Larks, Laura Lee. Ernesto Diaz (percussionist, various). Peter Erskine (drummer). Wallace Roney (trumpet). Arizona Opera Orchestra, Flagstaff Symphony, Flagstaff Festival of the Arts Orchestra.
Recent ensembles and performances
Orchestral freelancing since 1999 (section percussion)
- Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra (North Andover, MA)
- Charles River Sinfonietta Orchestra (MA)
- Brahms Society Orchestra (Cambridge, MA)
- Concord Orchestra (Concord, MA)
- New Bedford Symphony (New Bedford, MA)
- Quincy Symphony (Quincy, MA)
- Cape Ann Symphony (Gloucester, MA)
- Newton Symphony (Newton, MA): section percussion & timpani as needed
- Longy School of Opera (Cambridge, MA)
- New England Philharmonic (Boston, MA)
- Longwood Symphony (Boston, MA)
- Wellesley Symphony (Wellesley, MA)
- Melrose Symphony (Melrose, MA)
- Summer MIT Symphony Orchestra (Cambridge, MA): Eastern European tour, 1999
- Professional and university experience (pre-1999) available on request
Jazz, musical theater, world music, pop, festivals
- Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica (formerly the WAITIKI Orchestrotica).
A 21-pc band playing my transcriptions of the space-age bachelor pad music of Juan Garcia Esquivel. Bandleader, percussionist, pianist. (2005-present) - La Tuza: Mexican Roots Music.
Specializing in Son jarocho, huasteco, calentano (percussionist, vocalist). (2007-present) - Orchestra of This.
Percussionist and vibraphonist for progressive, 3rd-stream jazz led by Matthew Joy on guitars. (2007-present) - Gato Malo Orchestra.
Drumset, organ, percussion in this NOLA-style RnB, soul, blues band. (2005-present) - WAITIKI.
Polynesian lounge/exotica/tiki quartet. Vibraphone & percussionist, composer. (2003-2007) - Merrimack Valley Players (Methuen, MA): An Evening of Gershwin (Spring, 2008)
- Arlington Friends of the Drama (Arlington, MA): Carousel (April, 2007)
- Weston Friendly Society (Weston, MA): Annie (Winter, 2006)
- Maverick Productions, (Boston, MA): Company (2005)
- Marblehead [MA] Arts Festival with Steven Spungin Flamenco Group (2004)
- Footlight Club (Jamaica Plain, MA): A Very Carol Christmas (2003, 2004) (Featured Joey McIntyre in 2003!)
- Longwood Players (Boston, MA): Pippen (2002), and Cabaret (2003)
- Quannapowitt Players (Reading, MA): Cabaret (2003)
- See my bands page for a list of groups I play with.
Multimedia and Recordings
- Gato Malo Orchestra: Organ on 2008 debut album (title pending, Independent)
- WAITIKI: Rendezvous in Okonkuluku - 2007 (Independent)
- Paradise Lost and Found: Songs of Hawaii Old and New - 2007 (FMM-R-144)
- WAITIKI: Charred Mammal Flesh, Exotic Music for BBQ - 2005 (Independent)
- See my Compositions page and Projects page
TV & Radio Performances
- April 2006: WAITIKI Orchestrotica’s show for the Festival de Mexico is recorded and produced for Canal 11 TV (Mexico City, Mexico)
- June 2005: WAITIKI performs a taste of our 2005 HI Jazz Festival program on KHON TV morning news (Honolulu, HI)
- April 2005: WAITIKI performs on the Overnight Freeform Show on Pittsburgh’s NPR Affiliate WYEP, 91.3FM
- February 2005: Gato Malo performs on Boston Emissions, WBCN, 104.1 FM
- May 2004: Leah Callahan performs on Sunday Nights with Carmelita on Boston’s WAAF, 107.3
Past Performances (Arizona, 1995-1999)
Orchestral
- Sun Cities Symphony of the West Valley (Sun City, AZ): winner of the 1999 Jennings Butterfield Young Artist Competition with Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Vibraphone and Orchestra, Spring 1999
- Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): principal percussion, 1997-1999; section percussion, 1995-1997
- Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): student representative for the Orchestra Committee, 1998-1999
- Flagstaff Festival of the Arts Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion, Summer 1997
- Man of La Mancha Pit Orchestra (Northern Arizona University Performing Arts Presentations, professional production in Flagstaff, AZ) percussion, May-Jun 1997
- Arizona Opera Company (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion for Wagner’s "Ring Cycle" Orchestra, May-Jun 1996, May-Jun 1998
- Northern Arizona University Centennial Celebration Orchestra (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion, Jun 1998
- Sun City Symphony Orchestra (Sun City, AZ): substitute percussionist, Feb 1997-1999
- Master Chorale of Flagstaff (Flagstaff, AZ): section percussion, Dec 1995, Dec 1996, Dec 1997
- Mesa Symphony Orchestra (Mesa, AZ): substitute percussionist, 1995 -July 1996
Education
- 2004-current: intermittent study with: Raquy Danziger (doumbek), Glen Velez (frame drum), Jamey Haddad (frame drum, rhythmic systems), Rusty Scott (jazz theory and comping), Jerry Leake (tabla).
- 2002: Brazilian Percussion Tour. With a group of various collegiate professors and students from Long Beach, CA, studied Brazilian folkloric music, samba, capoeira, and candomble for two weeks in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- 1999: Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Percussion Performance.
Professional Affiliations
- Member, American Federation of Musicians / Boston Musicians' Association (BMA)
- Member, Percussive Arts Society (PAS)
References
Nancy Zeltsman, Marimbist & Professor
Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory
Boston, MA
617.825.7799
nancy@nancyzeltsman.com
Bob Schulz, freelance percussionist in Boston
781.648.6936
robertschulz@verizon.com
Dr. Steven Hemphill, Professor & Director of Percussion Studies
Northern Arizona University
School of Performing Arts
Box 6040
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
520-523-3739
Steven.Hemphill@nau.edu