Stupendous first edition of AIPF
04 November 2015
The first edition of the Adams International Percussion Festival was held last weekend. It proved to be a stupendous percussion event, featuring fascinating workshops, splendid concerts, countless familiar faces and a list of participants representing over twenty nationalities.
The timpani masterclasses scheduled for the opening day of the event were an absolute box office success. It is a rare occurrence that students have the opportunity to attend back-to-back classes by two of the world’s most popular timpanists: the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s Nick Woud, and Raymond Curfs who plays in the Bavarian Radio Symphony (BRSO) and Lucerne Festival orchestras. It therefore came as no surprise that professional students literally came in their droves to Ittervoort to attend these classes. The concert held at the close of the masterclass programme comprised a duet by two percussionists with highly varying styles, yet both of an exceptional level of excellence. Ji Hye Jung and Dominique Vleeshouwers displayed their exceptional talents during a splendid concert held in an intimate setting.
On the Saturday, the festival presented a meet and greet with both the Dutch and International percussion circles. Over a hundred students attended the programme’s masterclasses and workshops. This enabled percussionists representing a wide range of styles and levels to do their thing in a particularly pleasant atmosphere. For instance, Raymond Curfs held more timpani classes, while Edith Habraken offered a peek behind the scenes in the world of Basel drumming, and room was simply bursting at the seams when world class percussionist Peter Sadlo turned up to share his knowledge. That evening, he also took to the stage with his ensemble during Percussive Sensation, a stupendous evening concert during which he collaborated with the Wave Quartet, Kai Strobel and Edith Habraken to drive a sell-out audience absolutely insane with pleasure.
On Sunday, Dutch percussion group Percussion Friends performed at the festival. The masterclass held by the event’s founder, Vincent Houdijk, also proved extremely popular among participants, and he was received with a standing applause. This once again underlines the fact that the young vibraphonist is truly rising to great fame. Later that day, the festival’s closing concert was given by TEMKO, featuring percussionist Ramon Lormans.
Photos of the three-day AIPF can be vied here.
Bring on the second edition!
