Percussionists Participate in a Master Class with Evelyn Glennie

Upper School percussion students recently enjoyed a special experience with music teacher Alec Synakowski as they attended a percussion master class with Evelyn Glennie at DePaul University.

Glennie is the first person in history to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, performing worldwide with the greatest conductors, orchestras and artists. She lost nearly all her hearing by age 12 and is famous for her TED talk illustrating how listening to music involves much more than simply letting sound waves hit your eardrums.

The master class was nothing short of amazing. Glennie coached five percussionists whose abilities ranged from developing undergraduate students to the most advanced, professional graduate-level musicians. Her comments―simultaneously visceral and inspiring―encouraged these students and pushed them to communicate even more boldly with their audiences.

Parker students left the master class with renewed inspiration and an expanded understanding of what is possible in the world of professional music. Glennie’s charm, charisma, unwavering support and energized professionalism fanned the creative flames of Parker musicians. These students will not soon forget the encouraging words of the world’s premier solo percussionist: “Dare I say, I feel that you’re... like a lion in a cage, ready to burst out!”

Experiences like this trip to the DePaul University School of Music help connect Parker students to the global community of music creators and help “bring the inside out and the outside in.” For these students, this experience is just the beginning of a lifetime of exploration of the world’s diverse and dynamic musical offerings. 

More information on Evelyn Glennie is available here.