Robert McCormick is currently Professor of Music and director of the percussion program at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He served as principal percussionist/assistant timpanist with the Florida Orchestra for 20 seasons. He is a former member of the Harry Partch Ensemble and often performs with high profile artists of all genres. In 2010, he conducted the premiere performance of Chan Hae Lee’s Korean folk opera Simcheongga at the National Center of Performing Arts in Seoul. In March 2014 Robert performed the world premiere of Baljinder Sekhon’s Double Percussion Concerto at Carnegie Hall with percussionist Lee Hinkle. His myriad recordings with the McCormick Percussion Group, McCormick Duo and others continually receive the highest critical acclaim from composers and scholars. Robert is the host of the annual McCormick Marimba Festival which attracts major university marimba ensembles and performers from around the world. Robert was the 2006 recipient of the Florida Music Educator of the Year Award; the 2007 Grand Prize in the Keystone Percussion Composition Award, the 2010 University Distinguished Teacher Award and the 2015 Percussive Arts Society Lifetime Achievement in Education Award. He has also received several Global Music Awards for his CD recordings, many published on the Ravello label and distributed by Naxos. Bob is most proud of the many highly successful students he has had the opportunity to work with over the years.
0:00 Intro and Hello
3:30 Summer practice, projects, and time management
7:40 With your free time?
11:10 Influential composers? What makes a new piece valuable to you as an artist?
14:22 Harry Partch?
19:40 McCormick Percussion Group?
25:30 Casey: Varese, Poème électronique, Ampex tape machines
39:35 Keeping cool in rehearsal?
42:25 Pieces for flute and percussion?
43:50 McCormick Marimba Festival?
49:10 Working with Anthony Cirone in the 70's?
52:00 Zack Browning's "Profit Beater"? 53:30 Snare drum technique and Forrest Clark?
54:47 Advocating new works?
56:12 The university teacher's role in guiding a student's repertoire choice?
58:40 Future shifts in music? Jobs and competition.
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