The group, composed of Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin, and David Skidmore, specializes in new music/contemporary classical music and is known for its touring and recording activities.
Third Coast Percussion was the Ensemble-in-Residence at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center from 2013-2018.[1] They are the first ensemble at the University of Notre Dame to create a permanent and progressive ensemble residency program at the center. The ensemble performs multiple recitals annually as part of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Presenting Series season. Currently they are the ensemble-in-residence at Denison University.[2]
In 2004, original members Anthony Calabrese, Robert Dillon, Jacob Nissly, and David Skidmore were all percussionists with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago,[7] as well as students of Northwestern University. Along with their performance work with the ensemble, they formed a chamber percussion group that traveled throughout the Chicago area, performing at Chicago Public Schools and city colleges as an educational device. Although not using their signature title, it was from this humble engagement that the group Third Coast Percussion was created.
The first shows by Third Coast Percussion that were non-educational based were performed in the summer of 2005, the very first two being performed at Northwestern[8] and the Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston. In the summer of that same year, the group's membership took a slight turn when Jake Nissly left for graduate studies at the Juilliard School. As a result, Peter Martin, a percussionist pursuing a doctoral degree at Northwestern, filled the spot in the group. In addition to Nissly's departure, member Anthony Calabrese would move on to concentrate on his schoolwork at Northwestern. Former member Owen Clayton Condon, an alumnus from Northwestern and professor at Northeastern University, would take Calabrese's place.
Rehearsing during the night at Northwestern and Northeastern University for a brief time, the group began tackling their goals as an ensemble. The unique concept of Third Coast's repertoire was something that the group developed early, influenced by a series of restraints that they dealt with. As a young group, many of their gigs, such as performances at the Empty Bottle, were at small venues with limited space to perform. This would restrict the number of instruments and the type of repertoire performed by the group. These restrictions were instrumental in the selection process of the music that Third Coast performed, as well as the development of the group’s style.
On February 12, 2006, TCP played at the Neo-Futurarium, a gig that turned out to break open the doors for the group. It was at this performance that they first met Ethelbert Williams, as of 2023 a longtime board member of TCP.[9] Williams, an expert in marketing, was a member of the audience at this concert. Impressed with the ensemble's performance, Mr. Williams invited TCP to work with him. Ethelbert Williams was essential in helping to create a presentable package for the group that they could promote to the music world on a much broader scale.
Third Coast Percussion has since evolved from solely acting as an educational group associated with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, to a full-time working music ensemble, with Sean Connors assuming Condon's place in the ensemble in 2013.
Present day
Working with Augusta Read Thomas in 2012 helped the ensemble conclude that commissioning can be a deeply collaborative partnership. This led to commissioning projects with Philip Glass, Missy Mazzoli, Gemma Peacocke, Flutronix, Jlin, Tyondai Braxton, Devonté Hynes, Georg Friedrich Haas, Donnacha Dennehy, Glenn Kotche, Christopher Cerrone, David T. Little, and others. These diverse collaborations reflect the ensemble's wide-ranging interests. In addition to working with today's leading composers, Third Coast has also collaborated with "engineers at the University of Notre Dame,[10] architects at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation,[11] dancers at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,[12] and musicians from traditions ranging from the mbira music of Zimbabwe’s Shona people,[13] to indie rockers and footwork producers, to some of the world’s leading concert musicians."[14] Third Coast has also increased their education offerings with focused programming and initiatives such as the Currents Creative Partnership.[15]
Grammy Award
Third Coast Percussion won a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for their album Third Coast Percussion | Steve Reich, released on Cedille Records. They are the first percussion group to win in a chamber music category. The album featured entirely music of American composer Steve Reich in honor of his eightieth birthday and received high praise from Reich himself: "When I heard the Third Coast CD of a number of my pieces...I thought, 'Wow, you know, I've never heard them this way.' You have to literally lean in to listen. Which is a very good way to listen. And the whole thing just knocked my socks off."[16] Third Coast Percussion performed music from the album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards and were joined by jazz saxophonist Ravi Coltrane for the performance. Since this award, Third Coast has been nominated four additional times, with their first nomination as composers in 2021. [17]
Repertoire
Original music
Condon: Double Helix (2005)
Condon: Fractalia (2011)
Condon: Quadruple Helix (2005)
Dillon: Heaven We Need (2020)
Dillon: ...hence the term, well-adjusted. (2021)
Dillon: Mini-Moutons (2020)
Dillon: One Concession to Glee (2020)
Dillon: Ordering-instincts (2014)
Martin: BEND (2016)
Martin: WAVES (2014)
Skidmore: Aliens with Extraordinary Abilities (2016)
