BY JASMINE MIDDLETON
When Adam Tan first picked up a percussion instrument back in high school, he was “an awful student”.
“My practice ethic was non-existent!” Adam confesses (only a little in jest).
But with a good teacher and a little persistence, Adam stuck with his music and eventually found himself winding up with a Masters degree in the artform from the University of Western Australia Conservatorium of Music. And now, he’s hosting his own international marimba festival.
Based at UWA, Marimbafest Australia is a four-day experience involving four percussion leaders from four countries. These folks will work with 21 participants across 20 hours of masterclasses and chamber ensembles – and even a solo competition for marimba players.
“I noticed that many of my friends had successfully adopted models of hosting percussion events with diverse line-ups of faculty, artists, and students,” founding director Adam explains.
“People were always talking about how memorable these experiences were, and I couldn’t disagree. I wanted to build a marimba festival.”
The non-profit event is also run entirely by volunteers, ranging from competition-winning marimba soloists to full-time corporate advisors – all flying in from across Australia, the US, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Adams states: “Although I’m the director, it’s our work as a team that makes this event special!”
The four percussion leaders include Lynn Vartan (United States), Wei-Chen Lin (Taiwan), Kana Omori (Japan), and Robert Oetomo (Australia). Of their experience, Adam reflects: “I am so lucky to work with a team that embodies such a wide array of backgrounds and skillsets.”
Adam is certainly no stranger to the international percussion community. With the percussion scene in Australia “a lot smaller and newer than other countries”, he felt the need to forge his own career opportunities before bringing his expertise and international connections back to his hometown Perth.
“I bought my own five-octave concert marimba, set up a studio out of an office space, and started a YouTube channel that would grow to become THE STUDIO show,” he tells us.
“Three years later, after performing and presenting at various percussion events around the US, Hong Kong, Japan, and Malaysia, I felt like it was time to combine everything I’d learnt to launch an international percussion event here.”
As an instrument less associated with the classical canon and more closely involved in modern innovations and compositions, it comes as no surprise that percussion and its social media community are becoming inexplicitly linked.
“YouTube and other platforms for musicians have evolved so much over the last few years; it’s nice to see so many more classical musicians getting involved with social media to create and interact with huge communities.
“I just passed 1 million total views on the channel — and still, no one’s ever questioned why I didn’t study at The Juilliard School, or why I never auditioned for a symphony orchestra.”
While the percussion community is spread quite broadly across the world, its sense of community is tighter-knit than ever.
“I feel happy when I see my viewers chat with each other, or when I get to meet them in real life and it’s like we’ve known each other for years.”
“It’s surreal to be able to meet more artists at conventions like the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, only to find out they already know who you are and want to work with you!”
Even compared to five years ago, Adam says the online community is continuously evolving to keep up with current trends.
“Now in 2019, we have many prominent artists and educators moving to online masterclasses, Facebook livestreams, Instagram Live Q&As, self-publishing through online stores, and much more.
“It’s all because percussion as a whole is underrepresented in traditional media, and the power of independent creators in percussion enables far more diversity in creativity and discussion.”
Back in Perth, Adam also aims for Marimbafest Australia to create more opportunities for the community’s young and emerging percussionists. Alongside percussionist Jackson Vickery, Adam co-directs the UWA Junior Music School’s West Australian Youth Percussion Group, and empowers students to perform in the Percussion All-Stars concert series, to “equip them with international-level experience to take onto the world stage”.
“I’m really pleased to see that the students are using our activities to perform and learn at higher levels than ever before,” Adam beams.
“I also credit the wonderful teachers and families of these students for this renewed energy. I hope it continues to grow!”
Reflecting on the importance of creating such opportunities, Adam states, “I just love the idea of giving more access to more people”.
“After all, not everyone gets to go to world-class conservatoriums to study percussion at the highest level – or study at all. And not everyone gets to fly to international events with thousands of dollars in accommodation, travel, and tuition costs.
“Why should these experiences be restricted to the confines of geography and socioeconomic background? If we have the means to make these opportunities happen for more people everywhere, then we should do it.”
Learn more about Adam Tan and Marimbafest (3-7 July) on his website. Watch THE STUDIO on YouTube.
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