Strike Duo

The New Year is fast approaching, and it’s never too early to start reserving dates on your shiny new calendar for some shiny new music. This January, Pitt’s Music on the Edge and the Andy Warhol Museum are delighted to present Strike Duo (piano and percussion) in a program that highlights leading creative voices in contemporary music. Strike performs on January 25 at 8 p.m. at the Andy Warhol Museum.

Strike Duo includes pianist Jeffery Meyer and percussionist Paul Vaillancourt, both of whom have track records that could make anyone feel like a slacker by comparison. Paul Vaillancourt has been a featured soloist with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, the National Arts Center Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and at the Banff and Aspen Music Festivals. Recent concerto performances have included Michael Daugherty’s Raise The Roof with the CSU Wind Ensemble and Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto with the CSU Philharmonic. He has had various performances broadcast by NPR, CBC and Radio-Canada and is in demand as an instructor and composer of Scottish pipe band drumming. In his spare time he is Associate Professor of Percussion at Columbus State University.

Born in Chicago, Jeffery Meyer has established an international reputation as both a conductor and pianist. Since 2002 he has been the Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic in St. Petersburg, Russia; one of that city’s most innovative and progressive ensembles. He has appeared with orchestras in the United States and abroad, including ensembles such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Sichuan Symphony, and the Orchestra Sinfonico “Haydn” di Bolzano e Trento. In recent concert seasons, the versatile Meyer’s busy schedule has included conducting, performing as piano soloist, as a chamber musician, and conducting from the keyboard.

Called “exceptionally fine players both individually and in tandem”, the duo has release an abum called ‘Convergence/Strike’ featuring music of Chen Yi and Mark Mellits among others. Some of these pieces will be featured on their upcoming Pittsburgh program where they will explore a variety of music ranging from Yi’s folk music inspired China West Suite to Mario Davidovsky’s Synchronisms No. 6, a classic of electroacoustic repertoire. The program will also include Brooke Joyce’s Sacred Trees, Mark Mellits’ Tight Sweater (Remix), Eric Moes’ Cross Chop (for solo drum set), and Jim David’s Duo Toccata.

 Tickets are available through the University of Pittsburgh Stages Box Office, by calling 412-624-7529, or visiting music.pitt.edu/tickets. Tickets in advance: general admission is $15; students and seniors are $10. At the door: general admission is $20; students and seniors are $15. (No free student tickets at The Warhol.)