Featured News
Moving Back to Tucson! / November 29, 2022
I am very excited to officially announce that I have recently won the Principal Percussion audition with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and will be moving back to Arizona to begin performing with the ensemble this season. My debut concerts took place on November 11 and November 13 and included Nielsen's Symphony No. 4, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, and Juan Pablo Contreras' brand new "MeChicano".
It was a dream of mine as a young percussionist growing up in Tucson to one day be the principal percussionist of the TSO. I feel extremely grateful and lucky that the stars aligned in this particular instance, allowing my wife and me an opportunity to move back to our hometown. To live near friends and family again and to perform with the ensemble that first inspired me to pursue a career in orchestral percussion is wonderful.
Please check out the EVENTS tab of my website to check out my upcoming performances with the TSO. I would love to reconnect with many of you now that I am back in AZ. Please reach out and let me know if you plan on attending a concert this season!
And, for students in the area, please note that I am slowly rebuilding my private percussion studio. My studio in GA grew to include 42 private percussion students and many of these students will be continuing on with me via virtual lessons. However, if you live in the Tucson area and are interested pursuing in-percussion lessons, please reach out. You can view my LESSONS tab for more information.
It was a dream of mine as a young percussionist growing up in Tucson to one day be the principal percussionist of the TSO. I feel extremely grateful and lucky that the stars aligned in this particular instance, allowing my wife and me an opportunity to move back to our hometown. To live near friends and family again and to perform with the ensemble that first inspired me to pursue a career in orchestral percussion is wonderful.
Please check out the EVENTS tab of my website to check out my upcoming performances with the TSO. I would love to reconnect with many of you now that I am back in AZ. Please reach out and let me know if you plan on attending a concert this season!
And, for students in the area, please note that I am slowly rebuilding my private percussion studio. My studio in GA grew to include 42 private percussion students and many of these students will be continuing on with me via virtual lessons. However, if you live in the Tucson area and are interested pursuing in-percussion lessons, please reach out. You can view my LESSONS tab for more information.
Upcoming Performances / Events
Tucson Symphony Orchestra: "Tantalizing Tricksters" | March 17 & 19, 2023
7:30 PM (3/17) & 2:00 PM (3/19) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
From The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to Don Juan and Don Giovanni, tricksters and wicked characters have always had a place in the concert hall. Explore music inspired by their devilish ways, including the violin concerto of Paganini—who was said to have made a deal with the devil—performed by Kerson Leong in his TSO debut. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
7:30 PM (3/17) & 2:00 PM (3/19) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
From The Sorcerer’s Apprentice to Don Juan and Don Giovanni, tricksters and wicked characters have always had a place in the concert hall. Explore music inspired by their devilish ways, including the violin concerto of Paganini—who was said to have made a deal with the devil—performed by Kerson Leong in his TSO debut. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
Tucson Symphony Orchestra: "An Evening with Hilary Hahn" | March 22, 2023
7:30 PM | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn returns to the TSO for the highlight of the season! Acknowledged as one of the greatest solo violinists of her generation, Hilary has delighted audiences around the world with her musicality, technical expertise, and the warmth of her personality. Classical favorites by Grieg and Tchaikovsky prepare the ground for the soaring beauty and fireworks of Tchaikovsky’s ever popular Violin Concerto. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
7:30 PM | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn returns to the TSO for the highlight of the season! Acknowledged as one of the greatest solo violinists of her generation, Hilary has delighted audiences around the world with her musicality, technical expertise, and the warmth of her personality. Classical favorites by Grieg and Tchaikovsky prepare the ground for the soaring beauty and fireworks of Tchaikovsky’s ever popular Violin Concerto. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
Tucson Symphony Orchestra: "The Magic of John Williams" | March 25 & 26, 2023
7:30 PM (3/25) & 2:00 PM (3/26) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
From Jurassic Park and Star Wars to Home Alone and Harry Potter, John Williams has composed some of the most memorable moments in movie history. Travel through his cinematic repertoire with Maestro Gomez and the TSO and relive the emotions experienced in these epic scores. We dare you to not hum along. The program will include selections from: Catch Me If You Can, The Cowboys, E.T., Far and Away, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Lincoln, The Mission, Scent of a Woman, Superman, and Star Wars. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
7:30 PM (3/25) & 2:00 PM (3/26) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
From Jurassic Park and Star Wars to Home Alone and Harry Potter, John Williams has composed some of the most memorable moments in movie history. Travel through his cinematic repertoire with Maestro Gomez and the TSO and relive the emotions experienced in these epic scores. We dare you to not hum along. The program will include selections from: Catch Me If You Can, The Cowboys, E.T., Far and Away, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Lincoln, The Mission, Scent of a Woman, Superman, and Star Wars. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
Tucson Symphony Orchestra: "Mahler's 'Resurrection'" | March 31 & April 2, 2023
7:30 PM (3/31) & 2:00 PM (4/2) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
Our Classic season culminates in one of the greatest of symphonic musical journeys from grief, following the death of a friend, to resolution, peace, and the beauty of afterlife and resurrection. The inclusion of vocal soloists and chorus draws comparisons with Beethoven’s own majestic choral symphony. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
7:30 PM (3/31) & 2:00 PM (4/2) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
Our Classic season culminates in one of the greatest of symphonic musical journeys from grief, following the death of a friend, to resolution, peace, and the beauty of afterlife and resurrection. The inclusion of vocal soloists and chorus draws comparisons with Beethoven’s own majestic choral symphony. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
Tucson Symphony Orchestra: "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert" | May 12 & 13, 2023
7:30 PM (5/12) & 2:00 PM (5/13) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
In the climactic sixth episode of the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader readies the second Death Star to unleash the final blow to the Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker joins R2-D2, C-3PO and Princess Leia to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet. Watch the complete film unfold as the Tucson Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ legendary score. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
7:30 PM (5/12) & 2:00 PM (5/13) | Linda Ronstadt Music Hall | Tucson, AZ
In the climactic sixth episode of the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader readies the second Death Star to unleash the final blow to the Rebel Alliance. Luke Skywalker joins R2-D2, C-3PO and Princess Leia to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet. Watch the complete film unfold as the Tucson Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ legendary score. For more information visit: https://www.tucsonsymphony.org/events/
