King Philip Marimba Clinic and Solo Performance

The King Philip Music Department will present a Marimba Clinic and Solo Performance by Gifford Howarth from 7-9 PM Wednesday, March 12, in the King Philip Regional High School Grady Auditorium. The public is invited to attend at no charge.

Howarth will begin his program with a solo marimba performance, featuring modern and classical compositions. For the benefit of the students attending, Howarth will discuss the background and his over-all approach to each piece between each performance.

After his brief solo presentations, Howarth will work with percussionists who attend, from beginners to advanced, on the basic grips, strokes, rotations and interval changes. Instruments will be on hand for students to play, and exercise handouts will also be available.

Howarth will be introducing the Gifford Howarth Signature Keyboard Mallet Series which is manufactured by Vic Firth, Inc., the sponsor of this educational event. The mallets are designed to create the highest quality of sound for the recital hall or within an ensemble and students will be able to test them at the clinic.

Howarth is currently Adjunct Professor/Artist in Residence at Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, in addition to serving on the percussion faculty of Nazareth College in Rochester, NY.

In addition to his active schedule as a recitalist, clinician, and master class teacher of mallet percussion, Howarth is a National Yamaha Performing Artist, a clinician for the Sabian Cymbal Company, and a Vic Firth Signature artist.

Howarth frequently performs as a freelance percussionist in the Rochester/Syracuse NY area, in addition to running his own private teaching studio.

Howarth is the author of Simply Four, a book on marimba technique, and has recorded a CD of classical music arranged for the marimba called Rosewood Romance.

Howarth received his Bachelors of Music degree from Ithaca College and his Masters in Percussion Performance from Kent State University. His percussion studies include working with Gordon Stout, Ted Rounds, and Bill Molenhof.

3/6/2001

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