Percussia's Programs
Percussia’s programs are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Zildjian Family Opportunity Fund administered by the Percussive Arts Society, the Howard Gillman Foundation administered by Flushing Town Hall, Ridgewood Savings Bank, and by the generous contributions of individual donors.
World Premiere Compositions
Percussia has commissioned and performed the world premiere of numerous original compositions
- Pedro Giraudo: Juego de manos (Play of Hands) (2025)
- Carlo Nicolau: Journey of Hope (2025)
- Frank London: Essential Food Groups (2023)
- Carlo Nicolau: Windows of Time (2022)
- Ljova: On the Street Where I Live (2022)
- Kento Iwasaki: Project Ethereal (2022)
- Victoria Bond: From the Atlas of Imaginary Places (2021)
- Ljova: Together!* (2020)
- Sunny Knable: envelop(e) (2020)
- Carlo Nicolau: Immigrant Dream (2019)
- Seth Bedford: Canciones Para Medusa (2019)
- Alexis Lamb: Murmuration (2016)
- Jessica Lurie: When Chance Meets Necessity (2014)
- Manuel Ciordia: Sancochón (2014)
- Kimberly Osberg: Defined by Darkness (2014)
- Quentin Chiappetta: International Express (2016)
- Seth Bedford: Queens Serenade (2013)
- Seth Bedford: A in New York (2011)
- Bill Clark: Moiré (2011)
- Angelica Negrón: Was I the Same When I Got Up This Morning? (2011)
- Matthew Welch: Variasi Ombak (2008)
- Alejandro Viñao: Formas Del Viento (2008)
- Jamie Keesecker: Colored Hats (2008)
- David Roberts: Three Scarlet Berries (2008)
- Scott Ordway: Of thoughtful children, and madmen (2008)
- George Cork Maul: Heartbreakthrough (2008)
- Dennis Tobenski: Starfish at Pescadero (2007)
- Marga Richter: Serenade (2007)
- George Cork Maul: Calliope (2007)
- Charles Griffin: Kusanganisa (2003)
Drums Around the World
A program for percussion quartet that travels the globe, performing rhythms on percussion instruments from around the world. This program is especially suitable for school and library performances. Watch the video
Plucked & Struck
Duos for harp and percussion, including works for Celtic harp and micropercussion
Music for Autism
Percussia has partnered with Music for Autism many times over the years to bring family-friendly concerts to individuals with autism and their families. Percussia’s Music for Autism performances have taken place at venues such as Common Point Queens, Brooklyn Library, Third Street Music Settlement and the Shorefront
MakeMusicNY
MakeMusicNY is a city-wide festival which celebrates the longest day of the year with free performances of music all over the city. Percussia has participated in this festival for many years, and has performed in public outdoor sites all over the city, including Travers Park (Jackson Heights), Diversity Plaza (Jackson Heights), Gantry Plaza State Park (Long Island City), Swindler’s Cove (Manhattan)
Musical Nosh
Percussia performed this food-themed program in 2025 as part of the Victoria Tea organized by the Friends of Maple Grove Cemetary in Kew Gardens, Queens.This program includes Essential Foods by Frank London, Disciples of Gouda by Marc Mellits, Avalokiteshvara by Lou Harrison (performed on rice bowls), and Music for Duke Orsino’s Table by Byron Adams. Percussia also performed the Musical Nosh program at the Queens Library (Forest Hills)
Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Going along with Percussia’s penchant for performing music in offbeat places, they have performed at the Jackson Heights Laundromat numerous times. One such performance was even captured in Frederick Wiseman’s acclaimed 20015 documentary films “In Jackson Heights.”
Shopping Cart Percussion
This program is a trio for percussionists. Usually performed outdoors in plaza or parks, the goal is to bring as little percussion as possible. Each player’s gear fits into a shopping cart! This program has been performed at many public parks and plazas.
Lunch Break Music in the Lobby
Percussia loves performing in off-beat, public places. One example was our performance in the lobby of the Falchi office building in Long Island City
Canciones Para Medusa
Percussia has frequently performed with the soprano Melissa Fogarty, a special guest collaborator who has appeared in numerous percussion performances, and is featured on both of our Neuma Records releases. The program title Canciones Para Medusa is taken from a work written for soprano, harp and percussion by composer Seth Bedford.
Croissant, Cafe au Lait and Musical Tidbits
Coffee shops are the hub of social life in many communities. What better place to have a pop-up concert? Favorite spots are La Boulangerie in Forest Hills, and Espresso 77 in Jackson Heights. We even played our Plucked & Struck album release concert there!
Imaginary Journeys
Percussia takes audiences on a journey to imaginary and magical lands.
Music for Strings, Percussion and Piano
A collaborative program with guest artists on piano and violin, this program features music by James Myers, Alan Hovhanes, Bill Douglas, Bob Becker, Henry Cowell and Mark Mellits.
Drums Around the World
A program for percussion quartet that travels the globe, performing rhythms on percussion instruments from around the world. This program is especially suitable for school and library performances. Watch the video
Big Screen/Small Screen
A highly entertaining, youth-oriented program consisting of Percussia’s arrangements of video game music from screens of all sizes including video game themes (Mario, Zelda, Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft), ringtones, TV and movie themes and podcast soundtracks.
Reggaeton Remix
Four original commissioned works by Jessica Lurie, Seth Bedford, Kimberly Osberg and Manuel Ciordia inspired by the rhythms of Latin Reggaeton music.
Good, Clean Fun (Harp & Percussion Duo or Trio)
This program is for celtic harp and small percussion instruments. The percussion instruments include orff xylophone (children’s xylophone), rice bowls, Chinese cymbals. This entire program fits in a shopping cart, and we performed this program in our Good Clean Fun program in the Jackson Heights Laundromat. Of course we can also perform a program for full-size harp and a battery of percussion instruments.
Duos and Trios
In addition to the full ensemble, Percussia will often break into duos and trios. Perfect for smaller budgets.
Inspired by Gamelan
This program is comprised entirely of works influenced by the amazing gong- and percussion-based gamelan orchestras from Indonesia’s islands of Java and Bali. This program features works by Colin McPhee, Gareth Farr, Steve Reich, Claude Vivier and Matthew Welch.
Roots of Rhythm
A showcase of the music of the Ugandan composer Justinian Tamasuza, presented in partnership with the Trans World Performing Arts Ensemble, a group of traditional Ugandan musicians & dancers based in the Bronx.
Thundering Drums (Percussion Duo)
There are many rhythmically exciting works for 2 percussionists and 2 marimbas, including Steve Reich’s famous and hypnotic Nagoya Marimbas, Daniel Levita’s duos for non-specified instruments, and Johanna Beyer.
Flute and Percussion (Duo or Trio)
This program includes classic works for flute and percussion or marimba, includes many accessible and audience-friendly works from the 20th and 21st centuries, including Lou Harrison, Gareth Farr and Wang Jie.
Voice and Percussion
This is a program for classical soprano vocalist and percussion. It includes a number of lyrical pieces for marimba and soprano. The featured soprano is the acclaimed operatic soprano Melissa Fogarty.
Original Works commissioned by Percussia
- Seth Bedford: Canciones Para Medusa (2018)
- Chiappetta: 7 Train Suite (2017)
- Carlo Nicolau: Immigrant Dream (2017)
- Alexis Lamb: Murmurations (2016)
- Carlo Nicolau: Espejismos (2015)
- Jessica Lurie: When Chance Meets Necessity (2013)
- Seth Bedford: Queens Serenade (2013)
- Manuel Ciordia: Sancochon (2013)
- Kimberly Osberg: Defined by Darkness (2013)
- Seth Bedford: A Year in New York (2011)
- Angelica Négron: Was I the Same When I Woke Up This Morning? (2011)
- Matthew Welch: Variasi Ombak (2008)
- Dennis Tobenski: Starfish at Pescadero (2009)
- Calliope: by George Cork Maul (2007)
- Marga Richter: Serenade (2007)
- Demetrius Spaneas: Evocation 1 by (2006)
- Charles Griffin: Kusanganisa by (2005)
- Charles Griffin: Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle (2003)
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