UNCP Hosts Third Annual Percussion Ensemble Festival

March 14th and 15th the UNCP percussion program hosted guest artist She-e Wu as well as the three winners of the Classical Marimba League Solo marimba Competition. All four artists gave recitals. As well, percussion ensembles from Spring Creek High School and Middle School, Cardinal Gibons High School, Jack Britt High School and Fayetteville State University performed for comments by She-e Wu.

The Medieval Feast Returned to the UNCP Campus on November 30

After a two year “rest,” Medieval Feast VIII returned to the UNCP campus. The Medieval Feast has been a successful venture for seven years, playing to thousands of children and adults. But it was a victim of its own success. Each year, we played to a larger audience and each year the show got more expensive to stage. After making almost no money for the scholarship program three years ago, we “rested” the feast for a year and staged the Choral Cavalcade. The cavalcade played to a large house, but we all agreed that it just wasn’t the same. Last year, we played off campus in Laurinburg and in Lumberton. But we “needed” to be home, where we belonged.

So the Medieval Feast returned this year staged by the 20 voices of the UNC Pembroke Singers. So we are thrilled to return to campus. On Friday, November 30, we performed our show, Dueling Jesters or The Queen to Me a Royal Pain Doth Give, at the new Chavis Annex.

The Medieval Feast featured costumes by Showboat Costumes of Southern Pines, music by strolling performers, our own Brass Quintet, and this year the special show was about the need for a new queen in the kingdom, written by our own Director of Musical Theatre, Hal Davis.

UNCP Summer Drum Daze

Saturday July 28th the UNCP Music Department hosted its first ever "Summer Drum Daze". This camp, co-sponsored by Sabian and Innovative Percussion, brought together area high school drumlines for an intensive, one-day camp to prepare for the upcoming marching season. It included a performance by the "Spirit of the Carolinas" drumline as well as special sessions for directors.

UNCP Hires New Lecturer in Jazz Studies and Music Business Coordinator

UNCP would like to welcome Aaron Vandermeer to it's faculty in the fall of 2007! Mr. Vandermeer is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Brass Literature and Pedagogy at Indiana University. He has earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from IU and also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in music and biology.

UNCP Announces DrumSet Artist in Residence

Pat Petrillo is the new Artist in Residence in the percussion area at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Pat is recognized as one of today’s most accomplished and versatile drummers, having performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists from many genres of music including Gloria Gaynor, Patti LaBelle, Dee -Lite, Patti Smythe, and Glen Burtnik, as well jazz guitarist Ed Hamilton, and most recently the world music group Oko Jumu. His versatility extends to Broadway in New York City, having played such shows over the years as "A Chorus Line", "Grease", "Footloose" and "Dreamgirls". Whether it’s a "deep pocket" groove, or a creative, sophisticated fill, Pat delivers…with authority.

He is also one of the most sought after educators and clinicians in the business. As a clinician and endorser for Zildjian cymbals, Aquarian drumheads, Regal Tip drumsticks, and the S- Hoop drum hoop, he has conducted clinics and master classes all over the world. He is also a faculty member at Drummers Collective in New York City.

Pat’s new DVD/Book, "Hands, Grooves, and Fills", (Visual Music Media) represents a complete curriculum and methodology for drum set development.. His first video, the popular "Snare Drum Rudiments", was one of the first instructional videos ever released.

Pat will be teaching group and individual drumset lessons, as well as classes and ensemble coaching. Lessons are available to the general public. Contact Tracy Wiggins for more information.

UNCP Has New Marching Band Director

Marty Spitzer has been named as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In this role he will direct the "Spirit of the Carolinas" Marching Band and teach courses in music education. He earned his Master of Arts from Ball State University and his Bachelor of Music Education from Bowling Green State University. He also has earned credits beyond his Masters from Illinois State University.

Mr. Spitzer was the director of bands and music department chair at
Bellbrook High School in Bellbrook, Ohio from 1988-2001. He built the
marching band into a five-time Bands of America Class "A" National Champion. The concert band also excelled as One third of the entire student body participated in the instrumental program. Spitzer is known by band
directors throughout North Carolina and the entire country for the
accomplishments of the Bellbrook program.

Tracy Wiggins, who has served as marching band director from 2003-2007, will continue at UNCP as assistant marching band director, focusing on the growth of the percussion section. In addition he will continue to direct the rapidly growing percussion program at UNCP.

Updated: Monday, March 17, 2008

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