4 March 2009

Percussion duo to close evening concert series

The last in the current series of evening concerts at the University of Dundee takes place tomorrow night (Thursday March 5th) and features one of the world’s most exciting young percussion duos.

Maraca2 have been entertaining audiences throughout the world with their powerful blend of musicality and virtuosity. As well as having performed at some of the UK’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals they have entertained in some more unconventional settings such as dance clubs, cruise ships, fashion shows and major sporting events.

They will be at the Bonar Hall tomorrow night to close out the series of evening concerts. The concerts starts at 7.30 pm, and admission is £8 (£4 concessions). Schoolchildren will be admitted for £1.

NOTES TO EDITORS

MARACA2 - Biography
Maraca2 are a young percussion duo who have been entertaining audiences throughout the world with their powerful blend of musicality and virtuosity. As well as having performed at some of the UK’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals they have entertained in some more unconventional settings such as dance clubs, cruise ships, fashion shows and major sporting events.

Tim Palmer and Jason Huxtable met whilst both studying on the Undergraduate percussion course at the Birmingham Conservatoire for which they both achieved 1st class honours degrees and won many of the college prizes, both individually and as a duo. Both Tim and Jason are active within the Midlands area as freelance percussionists and have performed with many of the regions most established ensembles including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group.

The duo have built up an extensive list of past performance with engagements this season including a visit to Argentina to perform at the 6th International Percussion Festival, General Roca, Argentina. Their concert was filmed and shown on Argentinean television and their masterclass was met with acclaim. Other recent events include a visit to the Isle of Man to perform at the Mananan festival of arts. Next season, Maraca2 will visit North America for the first time performing extensively around the southern states with other concerts and workshops planned throughout the UK.

Maraca2 are passionate educators and regularly deliver percussion workshops to a wide variety of age groups from primary school children up to university graduates. In addition to their duo education work they both hold teaching posts around the Midlands including the Birmingham Conservatoire as visiting tutors of mallet percussion.

Maraca2 are proud of their commitment to commissioning and performing new works for percussion duo and have premiered many pieces by British composers. Last year they collaborated with producer Ian Wallman to write and perform the music for the opening ceremony for the European Indoor Athletics championships held at the National Indoor Arena. In addition, they are one of Europe’s most commercially supported percussion ensembles and endorse Sabian Cymbals, Innovative percussion mallets and Marimba One Marimbas.

They have a website at, http://www.maraca2.com, live videos on youtube and a ‘Maraca2’ community on facebook.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk