RPO’S Feb. 3rd OrKIDStra: FEEL THE BEAT

For Immediate Release:  January 24, 2013
Media Contacts:   Sally Cohen (RPO), 585-749-1795, sally@sallycohenpr.com, @PR4Arts
RPO Info:  rpo.org, facebook.com/SuperRPO, twitter.com/SuperRPO, rpo-land.blogspot.com

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and RPO Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach Michael Butterman (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) will present the third OrKIDStra offering of the 2012-13 season, Feel the Beat, on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Hochstein Performance Hall (50 N. Plymouth Ave.). Tickets are $10 for children ages 12 and under, $15 for adults, or a four-ticket family pack (two children, two adults) for just $40 (20% off regular price), and are available in person at the Eastman Theatre Box Office (433 East Main Street) or at area Wegmans; by phone at (585) 454-2100; or online at rpo.org. Remaining tickets will be available at the door starting an hour before curtain. 

Joining the RPO will be Baltimore, Maryland’s Shodekeh (pronounced “Sho-de-KAY”), a professional beatboxer – or vocal percussionist – who uses his mouth, lips, tongue and voice to simulate everything from drum sounds, ocean waves and sleigh bells to musical instruments and turntablism (creating music using phonograph turntables).

“Rhythm is music’s most fundamental element, and this concert will explore the myriad ways that rhythm is brought to life,” explains Butterman, who worked with Shodekeh in Boulder last season in his position as Music Director for the Boulder Philharmonic. “From a light-hearted look at the history of percussion instruments, to Shodekeh, the human drum machine, this concert will have children and parents discovering their inner ‘beatboxer.’”

Shodekeh is the founding director of Embody: A Music Series of The Vocal Arts, which strives for artistic synthesis among the many vocal traditions of the world, from opera to throat singing to beatboxing. He recently completed a residency in Kyzyl, Tuva, which allowed him to work with such throat-singing legends as Huun Huur Tu and The Tuvan National Orchestra. This cross-continental adventure is slated to become a motion picture documentary, tentatively entitled Shuda, in 2014. Shodekeh currently serves as faculty and musical accompanist for Towson University’s dance department, and has performed with many symphony orchestras and at high-profile events, including opening for President Bill Clinton.

The Hochstein Percussion Ensemble (HPE), under the direction of RPO percussionist Jim Tiller since 2002, attracts high school students seeking an opportunity for advance instruction in all areas of percussion playing as well as ensemble experience. HPE members Janine Burdette (Fairport), K. Callaghan Cylke (Geneseo), Zack DiVasta (Hilton), Tim Powers (Webster) and Freddy Shi (Penfield) will perform “Sharpened Stick” by Brett Dietz, as well as demonstrating several instruments. 

Feel the Beat will include Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music,” Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” and Dave Brubeck’s “It’s About Time,” and will invite audience participation and improvisation. It’s recommended for ages two and up.