Latest Drumming News
The Percussive Arts Society International Conference 2023 (PASIC), held November 8-11 in Indianapolis, offered nearly 6,000 attendees the opportunity to see percussion greats in concert and learn from them in a variety of clinics, masterclasses, and demonstrations. The convention, which is the most significant percussion convention in the world, truly had something for every percussionist.
Some of rock music’s legendary drummers gave concerts and clinics, including Matt Chamberlain, Kenny Aronoff, and Matt Cameron. Newer drummers on the scene, such as The Pocket Queen and Nic Collins, gave their perspectives on how they got where they are today.
World music was well-represented at PASIC 2023, with multiple sessions with renowned gyil player Valerie Naranjo, a kickoff concert by Red Baraat, and a closing concert by Latin Grammy Award winner and recent Grammy nominee Tony Succar and friends.
Percussion ensembles are always a big hit at PASIC events. This year, Chicago’s Third Coast Percussion entertained a packed Sagamore Ballroom the same day they, too, were nominated for a Grammy Award. They premiered a composition by Michael Burritt titled “Since Time Began” that was created to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Zildjian cymbal company. Other ensemble offerings included a collegiate all-star ensemble premiering a new work by composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery.
PASIC 2023 also offered sessions in symphonic percussion, marching, electronic music, new music, and non-performance areas such as wellness and interviewing skills.
“One of the things that makes PASIC so special is the breadth of percussion that we cover,” said Percussive Arts Society Executive Director Joshua Simonds. Our DrumFest lineup included so many well-known jazz and rock drummers, but we also had sessions featuring marimba, vibraphone, gyil, and many other world percussion instruments, as well as symphonic and marching percussion, and more.”
Since Indianapolis was added to the rotation of PASIC host cities in 2009, and as its continuous host since 2016, this year’s event was the most heavily attended, with 5,743 percussionists and their friends and families participating. Attendance was up by five percent from 2022 and included attendees from every continent besides Antarctica. In all, 29 countries were represented, including Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Ghana, Israel, Japan, and Sweden.
“I love that PASIC is truly an international conference,” Simonds added. “With artists from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, we’re able to give attendees a taste of percussion from around the world.”
In addition to its concerts and sessions, PASIC 2023 also included the enormous International Drum & Percussion Expo, with more than 100 vendors offering the latest in percussion instruments, gear, and technology. Attendees could try out instruments, chat with experts, and even meet musicians sponsored by various equipment brands.
Virtual PASIC Sessions will be held starting November 27 through the end of the year and will offer unique online sessions for attendees, regardless of location. These sessions are also available for free to the public through the end of 2023 and can be accessed at pasic.org.
Mark your calendars for PASIC 2024, which will take place November 13-16, 2024, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
PASIC will remain in Indianapolis through at least 2028.
