Greetings and welcome to the July 2024 Vibraphone Project Newsletter. This edition includes information from Brian Graiser, Jerry Tachoir, Matthew Lau, Stephen Solook, Stuart Saunders Smith remembrance, an update on our composition competition, and our May 2025 event!
If you'd like to learn more about The Vibraphone Project, please visit our website (where you can subscribe to this newsletter), and follow us on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube for the latest updates.
President’s note
Happy Summer! The Vibraphone Project is now entering that exciting phase where plans start to take shape and become reality.
Our biggest push right now is the multi-faceted vibraphone event which will take place on May 16-17, 2025 at the Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University (this time, with Center actually open)! That event will incorporate several projects, including the performance contest, a gala evening concert, conducting research, and more. This event is part of our ramp-up to the 2027 Deagan Vibraharp 100th Anniversary festival in Chicago, and I’m encouraged by everything we’ve seen thus far.
We are also midway through our second Call for Scores and are still on track to announce the results at PASIC in November. At PASIC we will still have a strong showing in the expo hall thanks to lessons learned last year about what generates the most interest. And speaking of the booth… we’ll be bringing lots of LEGO vibes to sell!
I’m looking forward to sharing our podcast episodes soon, as well as promoting and distributing our 2021 Call for Scores Compendium to more libraries and audiences. There are some new plates spinning as well, such as the Pedagogy/Education team’s guide to vibraphone essentials, and a dampening rudiment project that I’m currently working on with Oliver Mayman.
At our most recent Board meeting, I shared that due to personal and professional developments, I am happily in the position to start planning long-term vibraphone events at Arkansas State University, including individual visits as well as longer seminars. My hope is to develop a weeklong vibraphone seminar, partnering VPI with A-State to provide an educational and performance experience that doesn’t currently exist anywhere else. More to come on that front as things unfold!
One last thing I’d like to mention: we are ALWAYS looking for new members to join the project! If you know someone who might be a good fit, or if you think you might like to step up your own involvement in new ways, I am ALWAYS happy to speak with people about VPI.
Jerry Tachoir
Over the next few months Jerry Tachoir will have a handful of key performances which are listed below. This summer take the time to get out and hear some fantastic music! There may be additional dates pop up so keep looking at Jerry’s social media for updated information.
For the past five years, Jerry has been busy with his YouTube series “Ask Jerry”. Currently in its fourth season, people send questions to him through his website (www.tachoir.com) about various vibraphone and jazz topics. It is worth noting that this is a free service! We highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity and view his past videos to see the what information he has already shared.
June 16 - Nashville International Airport, Jazz Series - Jerry Tachoir Group
June 20 - Duo Tachoir - Concert at Nashville Arena
August 5 - Duo Tachoir - Jazz on the Porch - Cincinnati
August 9 - Duo Tachoir Carmel Jazz Festival
September 18 - Duo Tachoir concert - Xavier University, Cincinnati.
September 20 - Duo Tachoir clinic/concert - Wittenberg University
September 22 - Duo Tachoir clinic/concert - Well-Rapp Center for mallet percussion
Matthew Lau
This summer Matthew Lau will have a busy summer traveling between England and Hong Kong. If you have the opportunity to hear Matt perform or teach at any of these occasions we are sure you will leave the event more enriched.
“I will be performing my 60-minutes non-stop vibraphone set with electronics and custom video at the Southern Percussion Tuned Percussion Weekend in Birmingham, UK 15-16 June. On top of that, I'll be judging a competition, and giving two classes, alongside other faculty Julie Spencer and Owen Gunnell. 12-14 July I'll be back in Hong Kong for the 1st edition of Percussion Fest HK 2024. Ivan Trevino and Dr. Rebecca Lloyd-Jones will be on the judging panel for competition. The festival closes with a portrait concert of Ivan's music, including the Asian premiere of his new sextet "Gardens".”
If you are looking for tips, tricks, or just to freshen the way you practice or to help your students, you should check out Matt’s #LauLicks on Facebook and Instagram. With this series he shows his practice methods and their progression, tips for sound quality, and general approach to select material. These videos are short, so it is easy to digest several in a single sitting.
Stephen Solook
At the end of the summer, Stephen Solook will be performing Julius Eastman’s Gay Guerrilla. This 30 minute minimalistic work was originally for four pianos, and was an arrangement he did for loop pedal and vibraphone. It will take place September 7 in Buffalo, New York, as part of the Musical Feast concert series.
Stuart Saunders Smith Remembrance
On June 3 the world lost composer and teacher Stuart Saunders Smith (1948-2024). Stuart was known for many forms of composition within percussion including theatrical, vibraphone, and drum set, but delved into more than these areas. He was very inspired by his interest in jazz, and this influence is heard throughout his compositions.
With vibraphone he may be most known for his Links series but his Family Portrait series is also well known and some include vibraphone. Outside of these two collections he has a large volume of work for solo and chamber settings with vibraphone, including one solo-collection that is five evening length concerts (Monday-Friday).
Throughout his life he has had many notable collaborators. This past December Brian Graiser, Joseph Van Hassel, and myself, Stephen Solook, took part in the premiere of his Studies 1-49 at the Hartt School of Music, which took place over two nights and was also a 75th birthday celebration. Stuart’s wife, Sylvia Smith (founder of Smith Publications), has undoubtedly had the most influence on his life. We are all fortunate for what Stuart brought vibraphone and music, and his influence will be heard for a long time to come
Composition Competition 2024
Our composition competition deadline for submissions has been extended to Oct. 1, 2024. Announcements will be made in November 2024. Selected works will receive online amplification, inclusion into a new printed and published collection, and or a performance at our May 2025 event. Details are in the images below. For more information please visit our website: https://www.thevibraphoneproject.org/2024-call-for-scores.html
If you have questions you can contact us at: vibraphoneprojectinc@gmail.com
May 2025 Event
Our festival this year will take place on May 16 and 17, 2025 at the Center for Mallet Percussion Research on Kutztown University’s campus. This year the festival will feature a performance competition and the winners of the composition competition. More information will be posted soon, but for now we look forward to seeing you in the Spring!
Vibraphone Project Chairs
President - Brian Graiser
Vice President - Boyce Jeffries
Secretary - Stephen Solook
Business/Admin - Harlan Graiser
Call for Scores - Boyce Jeffries
Newsletter Editor - Stephen Solook
Pedagogy/Education - Jerry Tachoir
Podcast - Patrick Overturf
Research Project - Quintin Mallette/Brian Graiser
Members
Sean Andres, Dimitris Angelakis, Anders Åstrand, Andrew Baldwin, Jim Bailey, Aaron Butler, Rosie Cerquone, Matthew Geiger, Mucsi Gergő, Behn Gillece, Josh Gottry, Brian Graiser, Harlan Graiser, Jade Hails, Boyce Jeffries, Matt Jordan, Matthew Lau, Tanner Leonardo, Terry Longshore, Quintin Mallette, Jen Martinez, Jon Metzger, Tony Miceli, Tessla Michael, Marciano Moreno, Ben Norton, John Mark Piper, Oscar Roca, Joshua Smith, Stephen Solook, Shilo Stroman, Jerry Tachoir, Saverio Tasca, Joey Tierney, Joseph Van Hassel, Morgan Walbridge
Get Involved
Donate - The Vibraphone Project is always accepting donations to support our cause. All funds received will go directly into projects that support the vibraphone; such as commissions, performances and event, and educational endeavors. Your support is appreciated! Visit www.thevibraphoneproject.org/donate to learn more.
Share - Let us know about your vibraphone-related performances, commissions, and projects! Our goal is to uplift the entire vibraphone community, and we do that by promoting all projects related to the instrument. Email us at vibraphoneprojectinc@gmail.com
Volunteer - We are always on the lookout for passionate people, eager to donate their time to The Vibraphone Project. Our volunteers gain practical experience working within a music non-profit organization, while supporting the vibraphone community. Click here to learn more.