Debra Li

debra_lidan@163.com

WHAT instrument type can better bring out the passion and vigor of youth than percussion? Ten years after holding the first piano concerto competition, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is now staging a competition to promote percussion in a bid to spot young talent.

Those aged between 6 and 20 can register in four categories of competitions, including jazz drumming, military drumming, marimba and Chinese percussion instruments. They will compete under different age groups.

Contestants can also enroll in group competitions, performing jazz drums, military drums, chamber music percussion or traditional Chinese percussion.

Those enrolling in the competition are entitled to attend master courses July 9 and 10 at SSO taught by Ding Dao, a member of the orchestra, Li Wa, a teacher at Shenzhen Arts School, renowned local percussionist Michael Lu, Wang Tao, lecturer at Shenzhen Polytechnic, and Rudolf Shamsutdinov, chief timpani player with SSO. The tutors will lecture on and demonstrate skills playing African drums, military drums, the marimba and the timpani. A jury headed by SSO artistic director Christian Ehwald will consist of members from the Shenzhen Percussionists’ Association.

“Compared with bigger Chinese cities with a more profound cultural background, such as Beijing and Shanghai, Shenzhen is a newcomer in percussion performance and education. But the number of students playing drums are on a rapid increase over the past few years,” said Wang Tao.

He estimates that there are already several thousand students studying percussion. “In the past, the majority of Chinese percussionists played traditional instruments or the timpani and the marimba in orchestras, but more people have picked up jazz drums in recent years and the trend is also reflected in learning.”

Wang said many people assumed that percussion instruments are noisy and therefore not a “serious” instruments like the piano or violin. “In fact, playing percussion is more about self-control, good coordination between the player’s hands and eyes, and appreciation of the musicality and minute difference in sounds.”

He also said it’s a good form of music training for children starting at 3 and a half years old. “We hope to make the contest an annual event, not just to spot young talent, but also help the general public better understand percussion,” Wang said.

The top six winners in each category will be given the chance to participate in an international percussion competition to be held in Tianjin in North China between Aug. 18 and 22.

Everyone enrolling for the local competition will be given two tickets to the first Shenzhen International Percussion Art Festival concerts to be held between October and December in town.

The concerts will feature Yu Le, a Chinese percussionist active in Britain, Chen Xianghao, chief percussionist with Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Wang Jiaxun Percussion Troupe and Four Gig Heads Percussion Group from Hong Kong. Founded in 1998 by Hong Kong’s local percussionists, Four Gig Heads is versatile in both Chinese and Western percussion music, skillful in traditional and contemporary styles as well as the Brazilian samba and African drums.

The winner of the group competition will also perform at the concerts.

Those who wish to test their skills have to register before July 1. Those enrolling for Singles competition will be charged 580 yuan (US$89) and those entering for group competitions need to pay 280 yuan each.

Those interested can check www.tsdmusic.com for more detailed information.