【Thursday Art & Culture】Taiwan International Percussion Convention Features 30 Performances Across 10 Cities in 7 Days

Held once every three years, the TIPC is one of the world’s premier percussion festivals and a major gathering of global percussion talent in Taiwan. Over the past 20+ years, it has hosted performances by 77 percussion ensembles and artists from 27 countries, premiering a total of 58 compositions by Taiwanese creators and as many as 40 world premieres. These efforts have helped energize the percussion scene in Asia and established Taiwan as a global hub for percussion music.

To enhance cultural exchange and give the public a chance to witness top-tier international performances, the 2014 Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival—organized by the Kaohsiung City Bureau of Cultural Affairs—has specially invited the "World Masters of Marimba Soloists Series" featuring four marimba virtuosos from Japan, Canada, the United States, and Denmark, along with the dramatically expressive Dutch ensemble Percossa. They will perform on May 30 and 31 at Kaohsiung’s Tzude Hall.

 

Among them, the Dutch group Percossa consists of four members who combine dance, mime, magic, and projections with masterful percussion, delivering powerful rhythm and theatrical effects. Media outlets have praised their performances as “Amazing” and “with such impressive rhythms that leave you speechless.” Tickets for their shows are always in high demand. Making their first return to Taiwan in six years, they will present their wildly popular show *Rebel Rhythms*, an 110-minute program that has been performed over 200 times in Europe and is now making its Asian premiere in its original form in Taiwan.

For this occasion, Percossa specially recorded a video message for audiences in Kaohsiung: “We are honored to be invited to perform at the Taiwan International Percussion Convention. Through music, we look forward to sharing our experience, joy, and creativity with friends in Taiwan. We believe participating in the TIPC is essential for any performing ensemble’s development. Let’s together experience the wonder, imagination, and vibrant energy of the Taiwan International Percussion Convention!”—expressed with great enthusiasm.

 

The "World Masters of Marimba Soloists Series" brings together four outstanding marimba soloists, offering a rare international feast of solo marimba performances. The first half features Eriko Oomori, a rising star marimba performer who has won four international competition first prizes, alongside Canadian-Chinese composer Zhang Junliang, known as the “new romantic marimba performer.” The second half invites two maestro-level marimba players—Mark Ford and Kai Stensgaard. Mark Ford, former president of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), is recognized globally as one of the most outstanding percussion educators. Kai Stensgaard is one of the pioneers of six-mallet marimba performance, showcasing the rich, versatile tones of the technique with his masterful and polished skills.