Identity Cubed

The group continues to reach diverse venues as well as engage in educational concerts. I3 seeks to change the way that percussion music is perceived by performing for audiences who otherwise would not have the opportunity to experience the idiosyncrasy of percussion music.

Welcoming guest artist Jeffrey Barudin, audiences will hear the world premier of "Reality is my Juggernaut," a piece written by Barudin.

6:30 pm Box office opens

6:30 pm Drinks and food served in Hardy Hall.

7:30 pm Music starts in the theatre

8:30 pm concert ends. Meet and greet with the musicians

MEMBER BIOS

Andre Dowell is a strategic arts administrator and thought leader who helps drive national programming and conversations around diversity in classical music. He currently serves as Chief Programming Officer for the Sphinx Organization, the nation’s leading arts organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. A native of Trenton, Tennessee, Andre’s music career began in piano lessons at the urging of his mother. Despite his initial reluctance to embrace the craft, it was not long before Andre was transformed by an unshakable love of sound. Andre completed his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Percussion Performance at the University of Michigan. Andre resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife, daughter, and son, along with an expertly curated collection of bowties."

Andres Pichardo - Born in Managua, Nicaragua and raised in Los Angeles, Andres Pichardo-Rosenthal began piano lessons at the age of six and percussion at age 11. He received his undergraduate degree at Rice University, his masters at the University of Southern California and completed his education at the New England Conservatory.

Andres has performed with esteemed orchestras around the country, such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New world Symphony and the Hawaii Symphony—to name a few. Additionally, he has performed on motion picture scores in Los Angeles and musical theater shows in Houston. Andres joined the DSO in September of 2014.

Jeffrey Barudin - Dr. Jeffrey Barudin is a dynamic and innovative percussion performer and pedagogue. He has performed as a soloist and ensemble member around the world, including several performances at PASICs and PAS Days of Percussion. He has also participated in numerous world premiere performances and recordings. His playing has been praised as having "...the naturalness of conversation" with "joy that cascades from every note."

He is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO where he coordinates the percussion studio and directs the LU Symphony Orchestra. He has served on the faculty at Southwest Illinois College and the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine. Dr. Barudin is the Principal Timpanist with the St. Louis Civic Orchestra, and a frequent collaborator with Chamber Project STL. He received his DMA and MM degrees from the University of Michigan, and his BS in Music Education from Penn State University. His primary instructors were Dan Armstrong, Gifford Howarth, Michael Udow, and Joseph Gramley.

Xavier Verna - An accomplished musician, Xavier has performed nationally and internationally in a variety of ensembles. He’s appeared in PBS television broadcasts with the Sphinx Symphony, the unique all Black and Latino orchestra comprised of top professionals from around the country. Additionally, Rhyta Musik, an Eastern European brass band focused on educating and inspiring communities, has appeared on stages at ‘Ann Arbor Arts Festival,’ ‘Arts Beats, and Eats,’ and the international conference on diversity in the arts, ‘SphinxCon’. Xavier also co-founded the contemporary percussion group, Identity Cubed, a dynamic percussion group whose focus is to expose new and exciting works that transcend the standard percussion ensemble.