March 29, 2007

Percussion show features Kaotic Drumline

QuadroMania: A Festival of Fours — the School of Music’s Spring 2007 festival — will present compelling combinations of fours to showcase some of today’s brightest artists.

Music will vary from classical, new and world music to acoustic, fusion, harmony, instrumental, jazz, rock, swing and percussion, to appeal to all ages.

All of the QuadroMania music festival events are open to the public and will be held at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

The festival’s nine events will include performances by the Turtle Island String Quartet (March 30) and Turtle Island with the Ying Quartet (March 31). The Wacker Consort — a quartet of string bassists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra — (April 4) will be joined by School of Music faculty members and their student protégées. Also taking the stage will be the edgy New York–based new music string quartet Ethel with special guest Howard Levy (April 5) and Chicago guitarists Fareed Haque, Chris Siebold and Friends (April 6). The festival’s finale will feature four percussion groups — Samba Samba!, Boomshaka, the Kaotic Drumline and Be the Groove — that will entertain the audience with Brazilian martial arts dancing, rhythmic percussion and drumming.

The festival’s grand finale, “QuadroRhythmia: Samba Samba!, Boomshaka, the Kaotic Drumline and Be the Groove,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7, will spotlight four distinct percussion groups. The seven-member Brazilian ensemble Samba Samba!, features two traditional “capoeira” (Brazilian martial arts) dancers. Boomshaka, Northwestern University’s drum, dance and rhythm ensemble, is entirely written, directed and produced by students. The Kaotic Drumline, a young percussion ensemble from Chicago’s south side, is part of the regular halftime entertainment for the WNBA’s newest team, the Chicago Sky. Be the Groove is a rhythmic percussion ensemble.

See the full list of events in the calendar on page 10.