In April 2004, in New York City, composer/percussionist Andrew Beall performed the world premiere of his Testament: Symphony for Marimba and Orchestra with the Tower Philharmonic. An hour long, four-movement work, this piece marks as the first marimba symphony in history ever to be composed or performed. Since the premiere, he has reduced the opus to a shorter, three-movement Concerto, which had its world premiere with the Aspen Philharmonic in the summer of ‘06. The most recent performance was during PASIC ’07 with the Columbus Philharmonic.
A multi-faceted performer and educator, Mr. Beall sustains balance between the Symphonic, Broadway, and Marching arenas. As a freelance percussionist, he has performed on Broadway in The Lion King and Les Miserables, as well as at Carnegie Hall with the Manhattan Pops Orchestra and the New England Symphonic Ensemble. Mr. Beall has appeared as a soloist around the world, including 14 recitals and 6 concerto performances. In 2001, he won the D.C.I. Solo Marimba Competition, D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble Competition, and the P.A.S.I.C. College Marimba Competition. He has placed 1st in concerto competitions at The Ohio State University and New York University, and 2nd at the MTNA National Young Artist Performer’s Competition. Mr. Beall spent a year as a cast member and snare drum soloist in the Australian stage spectacular, Rhythm of the Night. He performs regularly with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and American Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the American Brass Quintet, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Percussion Ensemble, Greenwich Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Harmonie Symphony Orchestra, Gotham City Orchestra, and served as Principal Timpanist at the Conductor’s Institute at Bard. Mr. Beall was recently appointed Principal Timpanist/Percussionist of the Erato Chamber Orchestra of Chicago. Additionally, he tours as drummer for the New York-based rock sextet, Cordis (www.cordismusic.com).
As a composer, Mr. Beall’s works have been performed at the top conservatories, universities, and music festivals around the world. As a guest artist and clinician, he has presented concerts and workshops across the country, many of which feature a portrait of his compositions. In the field of marching percussion, he has taught drum and bugle corps such as the Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown, (arranging the 2003 winning D.C.I. Percussion Ensemble), and most recently at the Boston Crusaders. Mr. Beall has also written and designed indoor percussion shows for such as Odyssey Percussion Theater, Surround Sound, and Mt. Juliet High School. His latest piece —Glass Jungle, for solo percussion and percussion quartet—will be premiered in April ’08 at the Louisiana Day of Percussion. His second orchestral work, conceived as a concerto for solo percussion and orchestra, will have its world premiere in June ‘08 at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. Mr. Beall received his B.M. from the Manhattan School of Music, his M.A. from New York University, and was a Charles Owen Memorial Fellowship winner at the Aspen Music Festival. He is pleased to return to his alma mater, Manhattan School of Music, to teach at their Pre-College. His debut studio CD, Deliverance, was released on BMP Records and features four of his latest percussion chamber pieces. He is the founder/owner of Bachovich Music Publications (www.bachovich.com), Beall Percussion Specialties (www.beallpercussion.com), and is an endorsing artist of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drum Corporation, and Evans Drumheads. |
