Drums Downtown

Drums Downtown is an annual event that takes place each February in one of Columbus’ premier performance venues, the Riffe Center’s Capitol Theater in downtown Columbus. This multi-disciplinary event showcases the OSU Percussion Ensemble alongside dance, art, theater and multi-media and has in many ways become the trademark of percussion at Ohio State.

Each year, the OSU Percussion Ensemble welcomes faculty and student choreographers and dancers from the OSU Department of Dance to join forces for this unique collaboration. Additionally, faculty and students from other areas in the School of Music are often featured as soloists. This two-night run draws large, enthusiastic audiences, often selling out the Capitol Theater’s 800+ capacity.

For the fifth year in a row, the OSU Percussion Ensemble is sure to delight with this powerhouse performance of percussive sights and sounds. Guest faculty and students from the OSU Department of Dance will once again join forces with the percussion ensemble for this tour de force collaboration.

Drums Downtown V will take place February 29 and March 1, 2008. Featured on the program will be Huejutla by Anders Astrand (choreography by Susan Hadley), Ku-Ka-Ilimoku by Christopher Rouse (choreography by Coco Loupe), I Got Rhythm & ‘S Wonderful, arranged by Anders Astrand for marimba and vibraphone (performed by the Pendulum Duo), Glades/Origins by Henrik Strindberg with 3-D animation by Matthew Bain and a mass Hip-Hop finale (choreographed by Teena Custer).

Highlights of past repertoire for Drums Downtown include:

carpe diem by Susan Powell (with 3-D computer animation created by ACCAD student Mathew Bain)

Remembrance by Robin Engelman

OSU Fifes & Drums performing traditional music from the 18th Century

New York Counterpoint by Steve Reich (arr. Krygier) (choreography by Annie Amoult Bessera)

Living Room Music by John Cage

Vespertine Formations by Christopher Deane (choreography by Adriana Durant)

Shaken Not Stirred by Michael Daugherty (featuring the Shiraz Trio)

Conservatory Garden by Daniel Levitan

Stonewave by Rolf Wallin (choreography by Susan Hadley)

Volume Pig by Gareth Farr (choreography by Maria Glimcher)

The Invisible Men by Nigel Westlake (music to accompany the 1911 silent film)

Drums Downtown V will also feature “Come early, Stay late!”, with a pre-concert discussion offered each night at 7:00 pm, and a post-concert discussion taking place after the Friday performance.
For tickets, contact CAPA at 614-469-0939 or Ticketmaster (614) 431-3600.

Drums Downtown

Quick Facts

Number of seats in capitol theatre 850

sold out performances Drums Downtown II, III, and IV

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