Enrichment Center Percussion Ensemble
Encyclopedia
The Enrichment Center Percussion Ensemble is a musical group based at the Enrichment Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
formed from adults with developmental disabilities and professional musicians. It was founded in 1997 by
director Aaron Bachelder from members of the existing student body of the
Enrichment Center, an arts-based alternative day program for adults with
disabilities.
In spite of its members' lack of prior musical experience,
the group began performing within months, and was soon attracting the
attention of many in the arts and human services communities. Before
long, they had performed for thousands of people, alone and in
collaboration with such groups as The African American Dance Ensemble, Chimaera Physical Theatre, and more recently, The Open Dream Ensemble. The group's music is highly varied, ranging from neo-serialism to post- minimalist rock, as well as arrangements of American folk song and works drawing on Asian, Latin, and jazz traditions. Their first recording (Nomos), a collaboration with violinist Sarah Johnson on her CD Fiddler's Galaxy,
was released in 2000 on Albany Records, and subsequently premiered live
at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
(SECCA). Their latest
CD Three Pieces was released in 2005 on Microearth Records
, with guest
musicians Morgan Kraft, Erich Hubner of Man or Astro-man?
, and Joel Lambdin, founder of the Harrisburg Chamber Players.
It has received airplay on regional college radio, and a portion of the
opening track "Parallax" was used in a television commercial for SECCA.
Their performance of "Wintersong" by Bachelder was included on the recent WUAG
(University of North Carolina at Greensboro
) live compilation "18 watts is better than none". As Ken Keuffel,
in the Winston-Salem Journal, says, "[the] Ensemble illustrates the
power of music".
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
formed from adults with developmental disabilities and professional musicians. It was founded in 1997 by
director Aaron Bachelder from members of the existing student body of the
Enrichment Center, an arts-based alternative day program for adults with
disabilities.
In spite of its members' lack of prior musical experience,
the group began performing within months, and was soon attracting the
attention of many in the arts and human services communities. Before
long, they had performed for thousands of people, alone and in
collaboration with such groups as The African American Dance Ensemble, Chimaera Physical Theatre, and more recently, The Open Dream Ensemble. The group's music is highly varied, ranging from neo-serialism to post- minimalist rock, as well as arrangements of American folk song and works drawing on Asian, Latin, and jazz traditions. Their first recording (Nomos), a collaboration with violinist Sarah Johnson on her CD Fiddler's Galaxy,
was released in 2000 on Albany Records, and subsequently premiered live
at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art
The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art , located at 750 Marguerite Drive in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a gallery designed to involve audiences in the art of our time...
(SECCA). Their latest
CD Three Pieces was released in 2005 on Microearth Records
Microearth Records
Microearth Records is an independent record label founded in the fall of 1999 in Winston-Salem, NC. Microearth is a registered service mark of Microearth, LLC. Its original catalog comprised a re-release of North Carolina based Rompecabeza's 1997 "Ball Peen Companion" and Boston based Bitter...
, with guest
musicians Morgan Kraft, Erich Hubner of Man or Astro-man?
Man or Astro-man?
Man or Astro-man? is a surf rock group that formed in Auburn, Alabama, in the early 1990s and came to prominence over the following decade.Primarily instrumental, Man or Astro-man? blended the surf rock style of the early 1960s like that of The Spotnicks with the new wave and punk rock sounds of...
, and Joel Lambdin, founder of the Harrisburg Chamber Players.
It has received airplay on regional college radio, and a portion of the
opening track "Parallax" was used in a television commercial for SECCA.
Their performance of "Wintersong" by Bachelder was included on the recent WUAG
(University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
) live compilation "18 watts is better than none". As Ken Keuffel,
in the Winston-Salem Journal, says, "[the] Ensemble illustrates the
power of music".
Guest musicians
- Aaron Bachelder
- Morgan Kraft
- Erich Hubner
- Joel Lambdin
- Sarah Johnson
- Jeffrey Dean Foster
Discography
- "Nomos" featured on Fiddler's Galaxy Sarah Johnson Albany Records, 2000
- Three Pieces released on Microearth RecordsMicroearth RecordsMicroearth Records is an independent record label founded in the fall of 1999 in Winston-Salem, NC. Microearth is a registered service mark of Microearth, LLC. Its original catalog comprised a re-release of North Carolina based Rompecabeza's 1997 "Ball Peen Companion" and Boston based Bitter...
, 2005