MSUM Percussion Day
The Diversity of Percussion!
Saturday, November 4, 2023
9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
MSUM Campus
Admission Cost:
- $10 for adults
- $7 for students
- Free for drumline student participants and MSUM student and employees with ID.
Purchase Tickets Percussion Day Audience Survey
NYC-based drummer Allison Miller defies all boundaries bringing her individual sound to diverse types of music while preserving their stylistic authenticity. Allison goes from playing with legendary songwriting vocalists Ani DiFranco, Brandi Carlile and Natalie Merchant, to touring with avant- garde saxophonist Marty Ehrlich and legendary organist Doctor Lonnie Smith. She approaches each of these musical situations with her own stylistic identity and a creative, fresh and energetic approach. Allison was chosen as “Rising Star Drummer” in Downbeat’s 53rd Annual Critics Poll and has recorded six albums as a leader. Currently, she leads Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom and is a member of the all-female international modern jazz masters ensemble, Artemis.
Ralph Nader, a percussionist from Brooklyn, NY, started his performing career in the Jackie Robinson Center "Steppers" Marching Band. Entertaining is his calling, and Ralph does it best with celebrities, sport teams and stadium events. As a member of Black Fire Percussion, he performed with the NY Knicks and NJ Nets Drumlines during time-outs and halftime performances. While studying at Hampton University, Ralph was a member of the "Marching Force Drumline," while in the football off-season Ralph performed and competed with the 18-time world champion Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps from Concord, CA. With the Blue Devils, he was a 2-time World Champion gold medal and drum title winner. After graduating from Hampton University, Ralph was westward bound, taking his innovative ideas and drumming flare to Disneyland, where, with a co-creator, the "Soundsational" Parade, Festival of Holidays' Toy Drummers, and Food & Wine Festival's Jammin’ Chefs musical productions were all born. Ralph's Disney inventiveness and performances sparked European and South American tour opportunities with the German Reggae/Pop band "Seeed." Performing with Seeed gave birth to the performing percussion duo entity "BYOS." BYOS has become a social media sensation, leading to performances with Tony Royster Jr. (Jay Z's former drummer), Allen Stone (R&B Soul artist), Travis Barker (Blink-182), and Beyoncé (her Coachella Festival concert). Ralph is an international educator with a ProMark signature marching stick to highlight his incredible achievements around the world.
Fodé Bangoura is the Artistic Director and Lead Drummer of Duniya. Fode hails from Guinea, West Africa and has been recognized internationally for his work as the lead drummer with the acclaimed ensembles “Les Merveilles de Guinée” and the national ballet of Guinea, “Les Ballets Africains”. A protege of the late Mohamed Kemoko Sano, Fodé is now one of the most respected and sought after drummers of his generation and is currently based in the Twin Cities. As an internationally acclaimed djembe artist, he has opened for Damian Marley at The Apollo Theater, performed on a featured spot on MTV for Black History Month and recorded with Trey Anastasio of the rock band “Phish.”
Whitney McCluskey is the director and choreographer of Duniya West African Rhythm and Dance troupe based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Whitney began her study of African dance at The Djoniba Dance and Drum Center New York with Master dancers from “Les Mervielles de Guinea” and “Les Ballets Africains”. Since then she has had the opportunity to travel to Senegal and Guinea to deepen her knowledge of West African Dance and currently teaches at The St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts High School and Carleton College, as well as offering weekly community dance classes.
All you can eat $11 buffet available.
Bring your own Djembe if you can!
featuring all our guest artists plus MSUM's "Fuego Tropical" Steel Drum and World Music Ensemble
Handouts for the Percussion Day clinics with Allison Miller and Ralph Nader
Allison Miller Handouts
Ralph Nader Handouts
MSUM Percussion Day
The Diversity of Percussion
Dr. Kenyon Williams, Director
Guest Artists:
Alison Miller
Ralph Nader
Fode Bangoura
Whitney McClusky
Welcome to the MSUM Percussion Day! Minnesota State University Moorhead is proud to host a wide variety of performances and clinics that we hope will both inspire and excite fans of the percussive arts. This year’s Percussion Day has a focus on the “Diversity of Percussion” with artists and percussive arts representing genders, cultural traditions, and musical styles from around the world : West African drumming and dance, Trinidadian pan, drumset fundamentals, American Drum Corps styles, and the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) drumline tradition! Our guest artists are known nationally and internationally as performers and educators with a passion for working with developing musicians, and they can’t wait to share some of what they know with you today. The Day climaxes at 5:15pm, when MSUM’s “Fuego Tropical” World Music and Percussion Ensemble takes the stage alongside our guest artists in Hansen Theatre. I promise it will be a concert event you will never forget! Thank you for joining us today…we know that you won’t want to miss a minute of what promises to be an incredible day of music!
Dr. Kenyon Williams, Professor of Percussion, Minnesota State University Moorhead
Please help us improve this biennial event! Complete a brief online survey for your chance to receive TWO free tickets to the MSUM Winter Celebration of the Arts!
Percussion Day Audience Survey
Grand Finale Concert Program with MSUM’s “Fuego Tropical” World Music and Percussion Ensemble
Soca Tatie |
Byron Lee, Arr. Kurasz |
Cryin’ Dr. Tom Strait, trumpet |
Len “Boogsie” Sharpe |
The Naming Day Allison Miller, drumset |
Darren Dyke |
Pan Can Jam! Alison Miller and Ralph Nader, guest artists |
Tracy Thornton |
Kondjana Fe Fode Bangoura and Whitney McClusky, guest artists |
Trad. Kondjana/Arr. Fode Bangoura |
Sofa Fode Bangoura, guest artist |
Trad. Malinke/Arr. Fode Bangoura |
Bao Fode Bangoura and Whitney McClusky, guest artists |
Trad. Toma/Arr. Whitney McClusky and Fode Bangoura |
Kpanlogo |
Trad. Ga/Arr. Bernard Woma/Maxwell-Doherty |
Drum Call Fode Bangoura, Fara Bangoura, Aboubacar Bangoura, drummers |
Trad. Guinean |
Koreduga and Doundounba Whitney McClusky and Cynthia Matthews, dancers |
Trad. Malinke/Arr. Fode Bangoura |
Gahu |
Trad. Ewe/Arr. Emmanuel Agbeli, Williams |
MSUM Fuego Tropical Student Performers
Samuel Atwood, Rochester, MN Andrew Burnett, Avon, MN Olivia Clusiau, Hibbing, MN Spencer Engen, Elbow Lake, MN |
Jonathan Holter, Grand Forks, ND Aidan Kolehmainen, Monticello, MN Zian Loe, Las Vegas, NV Annika Lukken, Battle Lake, MN |
Aubree Schueler, Spicer, MN Harley Vocke, Hazen, ND Jacob Voxland, Shakopee, MN |
MSUM Dragon Drumline Student Performers
Aiden Benson, West Fargo, ND Josiah Campos, St. Paul, MN James Dorado, Buffalo, MN Aleks Jenks, Brookings, SD |
Jacob Karsten, Morristown, MN Jack Kluth, Huron, SD Sophia Lambrecht, Minneapolis, MN Isaac Leopold, West Fargo, ND |
Maria Marble, Brooklyn Park, MN Leah Meyer, West Fargo, ND Isaac Page, New York Mills, MN |
Special thanks for today’s event goes to:
Elizabeth Evert-Karnes, Amanda Citrowski, and the wonderful Center for the Arts staff, Braden Kuznia for CMU details, Ryan Cofer and the MSUM School of Industry and Entertainment for their technical advising and sound support, the Lake Region Arts Council and MSUM Comstock fund, the MSUM Student Activities Association, and the MSUM Comstock Fund for so generously providing the funding that makes special events like this possible for our students and the community. Thank you to Ginger Williams for her infinite encouragement, and of course thank you to my incredible Fuego Tropical and Dragon Drumline students for all of the extra effort and time that it takes to put on an event like what you are experiencing today. Finally, a big shout-out to our amazing guest artists and the incredible faculty, staff, and administration of the MSUM School of Performing Arts including Dean Kyja Kristjansson-Nelson. None of this could have taken place without your help, support, patience, and most importantly, encouragement. Thank you!
This event is funded in part with support from the Lake Region Arts Council through a Minnesota State Legislative appropriation, the MSUM Comstock Fund, and the following corporate sponsors: