Percussive Arts Society Wraps Up 2012 Convention

The Percussive Arts Society recently brought the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) to Texas for a four-day celebration of everything percussion and drums.The Percussive Arts Society recently brought the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) to Texas for a four-day celebration of everything percussion and drums. Over 6,000 drummers and percussionists descended upon Austin, Texas to enjoy over 120 sessions, reconnect with fellow percussionists, and make new friends in the percussion world. Austin also housed 113 exhibitors for the International Drum & Percussion Expo, the world’s premier event to see what is new within the drum and percussion industry.

Highlights from PASIC 2012 included many great competitions, concerts, clinics and an over-flowing Expo hall. A day of competitions welcomed the return of the competitive Marching Percussion Festival format, with over 110 entries spanning high school and college ensembles and individual performers. Breakout sessions included the U.S. Marine Band Percussion Section, a trip to a Brazilian Carnival with Austin’s own Academicos Da Opera, professional development sessions by Zoro and others, and clinics and concerts with Stanton Moore, Rajna Swaminthan and Michael Burritt. A standing-room crowd witnessed a clinic by Jhair Sala, Pedrito Martinez and Steve Gadd. Ari Hoenig and Mike Mangini each displayed their legendary drumset skills.

Concerts included an evening concert celebrating the 100th birthday of John Cage through performances by Percussion Group Cincinnati, red fish blue fish, Steven Schick and Benjamin Toth. Other performances were given by musicians like steel pan artist Andy Narrel, the University of North Texas Steel Band, the McCallum High School Steel Band, the Joe Locke-Geoffrey Keezer Group, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, and more.

www.pas.org