What are the benefits of being selected as WPG Composer/Arranger-in-Residence 2024?
Providing a platform to showcase musicians has always been at the heart of WPG's ethos. Since forming the World Percussion Group in 2015, the group has traveled some 30k miles, visited over 30 University departments and delivered masterclasses, clinics and performances on a truly global scale. The WPG is constantly looking to evolve its offering and is delighted to announce one of the World's finest opportunities for composers and arrangers of Percussion Music...Introducing WPG 2024 Composer/Arranger-in-Residence!
The selected WPG Composer/Arranger-in-Residence 2024 will be asked to write a brand new commission to be premiered on the WPG 2024 Baltic tour. A perfect platform for your music to be showcased on an International level. This year, the selected composer will be featured at the Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen, Royal College of Music, Stockholm, Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Tallinn, Estonia and a spotlight at one of the UK's most prestigious Concert Halls, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
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- You will be asked to write a brand new composition or arrangement for WPG to be premiered at the prestigious 2024 tour.
- The selected Composer/Arranger-in-Residence will be invited with a full scholarship to tour with the WPG to the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Germany. The group will travel by Cruise Ship (P&O Britannia) in the Spring of 2024. See tour schedule for dates. We recognise that some composers have busy lifestyles and are potentially unable to travel with us. Therefore a secondary option of $1500 commission fee is available.
- Your piece will be rehearsed in open workshops with the WPG where you will have the unique opportunity to work alongside, take on board feedback and network with some of the World's finest young Percussionists.
- The specially commissioned piece will be featured on all Social Media that the WPG currently hosts. Since 2016 through various streams of social media (Sabian, IP, REMO, Marimba One, Pearl, Tapspace, ClassicFM), the group received over 2 million views and 4k shares worldwide.
- The opportunity to showcase your compositions at multiple venues around Europe. The perfect opportunity to raise awareness of your compositions amongst students within various Music Conservatoires.
- Written feedback from an award winning Jury of WPG Percussionists, on how you can further develop your compositional style.
- A Live video recording of the World Premiere performance.
- WPG hosts an ever-growing roster of artists from all over the Globe. Many artists have gone on to perform Internationally, demonstrate success in International Music competitions and be active in a diverse field of musical settings. The WPG presents opportunities for the selected composer to collaborate with these artists in the future. Please see WPG 2019 Review to view past WPG Artists.
- Artistic Director and Maraca2 member Tim Palmer has visited over 60 Universities and Conservatoires Worldwide. The winner will have opportunities to promote their music to professors and schools that have been associated with him over the past 15 years.
What are the benefits of an unsuccessful application?
We are committed to adding value to all composers, both successful and unsuccessful in their applications. As a result the following benefits are available.
- You will be offered written feedback from a selected WPG Jury on how you can develop your compositional and/or arranging style and percussion writing.
- Composers will have exclusive access to WPG 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020 performance and clinic videos. There is over 40 hours of top class educational material which will aid you in your knowledge of percussion and writing.
If you wish to apply for Composer/Arranger-in-Residence then you will need to submit PDF scores of a sample of your compositions or arrangements (at least one must involve Percussion), Mp3's, videos, midi files and any supporting materials you feel support your application. Please limit your scores and audio/video clips to 15 minutes total.
Download the Official WPG Composer-in-Residence Marking Criteria:
Right click and choose "save target/link as" to download the files.
WPG 2024 Composer-in-Residence Jury:
Hunter Gross (USA), Graham Viegut (USA), Hsuan (Shanice) Wu (Taiwan), Andrew Naughton (USA),
Ryan Bond (USA),
Guillermo Andres Ospina (Colombia), Yuval Yakir (Israel).
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Hunter Gross (USA) -
WPG 2023 Artist
Hunter Gross, an American percussionist, chamber musician, and educator based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has not only achieved recognition as a performer early in his career but has also enjoyed remarkable success in national percussion competitions. Most notably, he clinched the first prize in the Keyboard Division of the 2020 Percussive Arts Society International Convention Solo Competition.
As a sought-after performer, Hunter has graced numerous prestigious stages, with his current affiliation being a member of the distinguished Heartland Marimba Quartet for the 2023-24 season. His exceptional artistry was prominently showcased at the 2022 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), where he enthralled audiences alongside HMQ/HME in a mesmerizing showcase concert.
Hunter's reach extends far beyond national borders, as he has been chosen to tour with the esteemed 2023 World Percussion Group, taking his artistry to concert halls in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal. Furthermore, Hunter's dedication to pushing the boundaries of classical percussion is evident through his ongoing collaborations and consortium projects with revered contemporary composers. Notably, he has recently collaborated with luminaries such as Molly Joyce and Steven Snowden, contributing to the creation and interpretation of groundbreaking new musical works that challenge the conventions of classical percussion.
Currently, Hunter holds the esteemed position of Adjunct Professor of Percussion at East Central University, where he imparts his knowledge and passion to aspiring percussionists. Beyond his academic role, he frequently freelances in the Oklahoma City area, making significant contributions to the local music scene and generously sharing his expertise with students and fellow musicians.
Guillermo Ospina (Colombia) -
WPG 2023 ArtistDr. Guillermo Ospina (Bogota, Colombia) is a dynamic percussionist and educator. An avid orchestral and chamber musician, he has performed in some of the most renown venues, such as the Musikverein and Teatro Colon, collaborating with esteemed ensembles including the Palm Beach Symphony, the New World Symphony, and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Ospina's commitment to contemporary music is evident through his close work with composers like Joseph Schwantner and Philip Glass. In addition to his academic repertoire, he actively performs with folk ensembles, preserving and promoting Colombian traditional music. His collaborations with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Colombia, Fonseca, and others have resulted in notable recordings, including Latin Grammy-awarded and Latin Grammy-nominated albums. Holding degrees from the University of Miami and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Dr. Ospina’s exceptional talent and passion have earned him numerous awards and fellowships. As an educator, he remains devoted to sharing his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of musicians.
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Graham Viegut (USA) -
WPG 2023 Artist
Dr. Percussionist Graham Viegut is a burgeoning performer and educator whose art is driven by the insatiable curiosities of sound. At home in many different musical environments, he has performed across the United States, including premiering new music at Bang on a Can LOUD Weekend, playing chamber music on both coasts, and playing with regional orchestras and musicals in Texas and Florida. Graham is keen on viewing percussive art as a confluence of traditions and explorations from all over the world and has developed imaginative performance programs that build bridges between contemporary percussion repertoire, multidisciplinary artists, and cross-cultural collaborations to create powerful new experiences for diverse audiences. Graham holds a BM in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas and is currently pursuing a graduate degree at the Frost School of Music in the studio of Svet Stoyanov.
Ryan Bond (USA) -
WPG 2023 Artist
Ryan Bond is a percussionist completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), under the mentorship of Dr. Dean Gronemeier, Dr. Timothy Jones, and Gary Cook. He currently teaches at UNLV as the Coordinator for History of Rock and as a professor of percussion. Prior to completing a Master of Music degree at UNLV, he completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, with an emphasis in commercial music. Bond has performed and given clinics internationally in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Mexico. He has also performed with Las Vegas Percussion Collective, Opera Las Vegas, Vegas City Opera, Southern Nevada Chamber Orchestra, the World Percussion Group, and the Grammy-nominated UNLV Wind Orchestra, serving as principal percussionist under the direction of Thomas G. Leslie. Notable artists he has worked alongside include John Patitucci, Eric Marienthal, and Bernie Dressel. Bond is a member of the PAS Health and Wellness Committee and is the Nevada PAS chapter Treasurer. He has been published multiple times in Percussive Notes, Rhythm! Scene, Not So Modern Drummer, and more. Bond actively gives clinics, instructs camps, adjudicates, and maintains a private studio, and he works as a percussion specialist with the Las Vegas Youth Orchestras and the Clark County School District. Bond Proudly Endorses Majestic Percussion, Sabian, and Black Swamp Percussion.
For more information about Ryan, visit his profile at
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1727-1769
Yuval Yakir, born in 2001, is an Israeli percussionist.
Yakir has received numerous Israeli scholarships, such as the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF), the Charles Clore Foundation, the Ronen Foundation, and more.
Yakir has performed with leading orchestras and ensembles in Israel, including as a soloist.
This includes preformances with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Jerusalem Israeli Chamber Orchestra, Tremolo Ensemble, and diverse musical events.
Yakir has appeared under many international conductors and artists.
Yakir completed his studies with excellence at the Ministry of Education as an outstanding musician, and during those years, Yakir was the principal percussionist in the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel National Orchestra, and the representative orchestra of Netanya Municipality.
Between 2019-2022, Yakir served as the head of the percussion section in the IDF Orchestra, and as a student at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
Today, he teaches percussion in schools and is a student at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University under the guidance of Professor Tomer Yariv.
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Andrew Naughton (USA) -
WPG 2023 Artist
Andrew Naughton is a percussionist based in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Much of his focus is spent on contemporary percussion music. He is a classically trained percussionist and obtained his B.A. in Music Performance (2018) and M.A. in Music Education (2021) degrees from Adams State University in Colorado. He is currently studying percussion performance as a D.M.A. student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas studying under Timothy Jones, Dean Gronemeier, and Alex Stopa.
Throughout Andrew’s studies, he has been prepared to be a well-rounded percussionist with experience learning, performing, and teaching western and world music. In 2018, Andrew studied world music with a particular focus on the congas. Performing with the Adams State University percussion studio at the annual Colorado Music Educators Association conference at the famous Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The performance was a presentation on the history and music of the Americas, the project titled, “Music of the Americas Project,” under the direction of Dr. James W. Doyle III. He was also frequently involved in the Adams State percussion ensemble, steel band, samba band, wind ensemble group, orchestra, and chamber choir.
At UNLV Andrew has been involved with many ensembles in and outside of the school.
He is currently performing as principal timpanist of the Grammy-nominated UNLV Wind Orchestra under the direction of Thomas G. Leslie. Andrew is involved with the percussion ensemble, has performed with the UNLV new music performance group named Nextet, has performed at many hotels along the Las Vegas strip, and has performed with the Southern Nevada Chamber Orchestra, and is involved with the Spring 2023 UNLV Opera production of, “The Turn of the Screw,” by Benjamin Britten. Andrew’s most notable involvement was recording an album with the UNLV Wind Orchestra featuring jazz greats, Bernie Dresel, Mitchel Forman, Eric Marienthal, and John Patitucci.
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Hsuan (Shanice) Wu (Taiwan) -
WPG 2023 Artist
Percussionist Hsuan Wu was born in Taiwan. She recently finished her postgraduate studies with distinction at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where she also received the Anthony Cross Memorial Prize. An experienced collaborative musician, she enjoys working with ensembles including the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, the Thallein Ensemble and Perano Duo.