Percussion Ensembles
CCU Percussion Ensemble
Director: Dr. Jesse Willis
The CCU Percussion Ensemble offers a multifaceted educational experience for each student. Every member of the CCU Percussion Ensemble will have the opportunity to perform in a variety of musical settings. Each semester the group performs both large works for percussion orchestra, as well as more intimate chamber pieces.
Examples of repertoire that has been programmed in the past includes; Toccata for Percussion by Carlos Chavez, Mallet Quartet by Steve Reich, Mudra by Bob Becker, Crown of Thorns by David Maslanka, Kyoto by John Psathas, Vespertine Formations by Christopher Deane, Stained Glass by David R. Gillingham, Marimba Spiritual by Minoru Miki, and many more.
CCU World
Percussion Ensemble CalypSamba
Director: Jesse Willis
CalypSamba, The CCU World Percussion Ensemble, has performed at arts festivals, music education conferences and dozens of public schools throughout the state of South Carolina and the Southeastern United States. The ensemble recently won the prestigious Percussive Arts Society World Percussion Ensemble Competition and was invited to perform at PASIC 2015 in San Antonio, TX.
The ensemble is made up of a diverse group of undergraduate students majoring in a variety of different fields. During its 16-year history, the ensemble has studied and performed musical styles from Africa, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago, India, Cuba and Brazil. CalypSamba has had the privilege of performing with featured guest artists such as Liam Teague, Victor Provost, Scott Kettner, Dr. Joe Galvin, Lalo Davila, Dr. Chris Tanner and many others.
The CCU Steel Pan Ensemble is part of CalypSamba and is one of the most in demand performing ensembles in the music department. Each semester the group performs for important campus events as well as several run-out gigs across Myrtle Beach and the South Carolina resort area known as the Grand Strand. CalypSamba is an integral part of the CCU Music Department, which focuses on providing each student with a culturally and stylistically diverse music education.
“Life is about rhythm. We vibrate, our hearts are pumping blood, we are a rhythm machine, that’s what we are.”