Sabian - Because Sound Matters

PASIC 2008 - Day 2

Austin, TX Nov 06, 2008

 Day two, and there's no let up in the pace of clinics & performances.

Interest on the booth in SABIAN's new Artisan Traditional Symphonic pairs was immediately intense.

PAS Hall of Fame recipient, Dame Evelyn Glennie, met fellow SABIAN endorser, Frederic Macarez on the booth, both admiring their new SABIAN cinch bags!

One of the early performances of the day was a concert given by the Curtis Institute of Music Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of SABIAN endorser, Christopher Deviney. They gave a fantastic performance of both new and established contemporary music joining forces with University of Texas Austin Wind Ensemble for a performance of Messiaen's Oiseaux exotiques.

The first work on the programme was Christopher Deviney's arrangement of Spectacle by Bela Fleck & Chick Corea. This trio of xylophone, marimba & vibes was accompanied by Deviney himself on 'bones' and shaker. These talented students held the audience captivated with their precise ensemble playing. Remarkably, this was the first time that the Curtis Institute Percussion Ensemble has performed at PASIC. After this performance it will be no surprise if they are invited back in future years.

Later in the day, Dame Evelyn Glennie returned to the booth and caught a few moments with SABIAN's Vice President of marketing, Stacey Montgomery Clark.

Meanwhile, the clinics and performances continued: SABIAN endorser, Scott Deal, gave a clinic on electronic performance - playing on stage with a large range of SABIAN effects, Scott was joined by a number of colleagues creating live images and sound with computers, all manipulated by the sounds he was creating.

Giving a fascinating talk on performance gestures was Michael Schutz - enlightening his audience with both examples and his research findings, Michael ensured all who attended were brilliantly informed on this area that can make the difference between a good performance and a brilliant one. For more details please go to www.michaelschutz.net.

Thursday night saw the annual SABIAN cocktail party take place at the Courtyard Marriott hotel. Both SABIAN's chairman and the company president, Andy Zildjian, welcomed many friends and endorsers and had the opportunity to meet and talk away from the intensity of the exhibition hall and the many daily performances taking place in the Austin exhibition centre. Music was supplied by drummer Pete Zimmer and his quartet and they played a lively set that entertained all attending. Battling with a few microphone issues, Dom Famularo still managed to bring some quiet to the room and introduce Dame Evelyn Glennie, Roy Burns, Dennis Delucia and Vicki Jenks, all being honored by the PAS the following evening at the PASIC Hall of Fame banquet.