By Judy Carmack Bross
Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Susan Noel, David Skidmore, and Peter Martin at 20th Anniversary celebration
We are raising a New Year’s toast to GRAMMY award-winning Third Coast Percussion, the Chicago-based percussion quartet and composer collective, which celebrated its 20th anniversary and will be performing at the Art Institute of Chicago on January 29th. The euphonious favorite of Chicagoans recently honored philanthropist Susan Noel and highlighted its groundbreaking collaborations and commitment to new work. Held at Walden Chicago, the benefit raised $100,000 to support TCP’s ambitious 20th-anniversary initiatives, including performances and collaborations that will bring the joy of percussion to diverse audiences—from Washington, D.C. to Belgrade, Serbia, to Chicago Public Schools.
James Ginsburg, the evening’s honoree Susan Noel and Sidney P. Jackson, Jr., President and CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta
TCP General Manager Reba Cafarelli with Board President Ethelbert Williams
The evening began with a welcome from Ethelbert Williams, TCP Board President, and Reba Cafarelli, TCP General Manager, followed by a seated dinner. The ensemble, joined by multi-instrumentalist and composer Clarice Assad, performed a selection of works together, including music from “Archetypes,” a project TCP and Clarice created together with her father, classical guitarist and composer Sérgio Assad, and excerpts from Play!, a concerto by Clarice for herself and TCP to perform with symphony orchestra.
Williams told us afterwards:
“Third Coast Percussion is unique because it expands what’s possible in contemporary music while remaining deeply rooted in community impact. This past year alone, our ensemble reached more than 20,000 audience members and engaged over 5,000 students through hands-on education programs—numbers that reflect both our artistic excellence and our commitment to access. What makes this organization truly powerful is its ability to inspire people of all ages to hear the world differently while building meaningful partnerships with presenters around the globe. As Board President, I’m proud to champion an ensemble that consistently delivers world-class artistry and measurable results.”
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Clarice Assad and David Skidmore in conversation
David Skidmore, TCP Ensemble Member and Executive Director, interviewed Assad on her collaborative history with TCP, from their joint album Archetypes to their current touring performance Play!. TCP Ensemble Member and Director of Development Robert Dillon presented Susan Noel with the inaugural Resonance Award, recognizing Noel’s contributions to philanthropy in support of Chicago’s robust performing arts scene. The event culminated with a lively paddle raise, emceed by Bill Melamed, to support TCP’s continued artistic growth.
Bill Melamed, paddle raise emcee
Third Coast Percussion and Clarice Assad performance
Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Clarice Assad, David Skidmore, Peter Martin
On January 29, in conjunction with the Art Institute of Chicago’s exhibition “Bruce Goff: Material Worlds,” on view now through March 29, TCP presents “Rolls and Reimaginations” which reimagines the iconoclastic player piano compositions of architect and self-taught composer Bruce Goff, inspired by the exhibition which includes a player piano with Goff’s rolls. Executive Director and ensemble member David Skidmore shares, “We have been fans of Bruce Goff’s work for over a decade, and we are so excited to bring this exciting, quirky, one-of-a-kind music to life for the first time in its entirety. We first made arrangements of a few of Goff’s piano rolls in 2014, and revisiting this project almost 12 years later has been a joy. There is so much imagination, playfulness, and virtuosity in these compositions.”
Susan Noel receives the inaugural Resonance Award from Robert Dillon
For this concert, TCP will present its arrangements of Goff’s player piano music for percussion quartet, including the world premiere of new arrangements the ensemble has created. TCP first debuted a performance of these pieces in 2014; this year, they completed arrangements for all Goff’s works for the player piano and are presenting the full suite in live performance for the very first time. The performance combines direct transcriptions of Goff’s musical works with the ensemble’s expansion and reimagination of the musical fragments and experiments that Goff left behind.
The performance takes place at the Rubloff Auditorium, and requires museum admission (or membership) as well as advance registration at artic.edu.
For more information on TCP and its upcoming performances, visit thirdcoastpercussion.com
Photos by Boscher Downs.
