MOUNT
VERNON - Joseph Gramley, a multi-percussionist who has toured with
world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, will provide the beat for the Dennis and
Quinelle Sikes Fine Arts Series at Brewton-Parker College on Thursday, Nov. 6.The 7:30 p.m. performance will be in the Gilder Recital Hall in the Miller Music Building on the Brewton-Parker campus. Admission is free.
While Gramley features the marimba during his programs, he also plays various percussion instruments such as bongo drums, tom-toms, two-bass drums, the vibraphone, two-octave Croatles and even flowerpots. He often complements his percussion playing with spoken word.
Gramley also collaborates with fellow artists and performs with chamber groups and symphony orchestras. Since 2000, Gramley has been associated with Ma's Silk Road Project, and he performed with the Silk Road New Works Commissioning Project in the summer of 2000.
In 2001, Gramley toured the throughout Asia and the United States with Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble. He appeared in Bright Sheng and David Henry Hwang's chamber opera "The Silver River."
Gramley presented his solo debut recital at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in New York and his concerto debut with the Houston Symphony, both in 1992 after he graduated from the University of Michigan.
After receiving a master's degree from New York's Julliard School in 1995, Gramley performed for three years with the Ethos Percussion Group, touring extensively throughout the United States and Europe.
Gramley also was featured playing solo marimba on the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards from the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. He also wrote the introduction to the Jennifer Lopez pop hit "If You Had My Love."
Dennis and Quinelle Sikes founded Brewton-Parker College's fine art series in 1990, to bring worldwide performers to Brewton-Parker College for student and community audiences. The Sikes Fine Arts Series performance is offered to the public at no cost.
Inquiries concerning Gramley's performance at Brewton-Parker College may be made by calling Dr. Pierce Dickens, associate professor of music and Quinelle McRae Sikes professor of piano at Brewton-Parker, at 583-3133.
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