"After almost two years without composing any original music for percussion, witnessing the grit and hard work of my students at Lamar University over the course of the eventful 2020-2021 year inspired me to write this short but deeply meaningful piece for mallet sextet. Of note, my admiration of Murcof and Vanessa Wagner’s 2016 album Statea is evidenced throughout (in particular, their adaptation of Glass’s Metamorphosis 2).

Ephemera was written for and premiered by the Lamar University Percussion Ensemble in April 2021." -Francisco Perez

Composer Bio-

Dr. Francisco Perez (b. 1990) is a percussionist, composer, and educator from Pflugerville, TX. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music (Percussion) at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, where he oversees all aspects of the percussion studio.

As an active performer, he has accepted international engagements in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Spain, and China, and toured extensively throughout the US including performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. He has performed with various professional ensembles such as the Lexington Philharmonic, the Symphony of Southeast Texas, and is a founding member of the BlueSHIFT Percussion Quartet. Dedicated to the expansion of chamber percussion music, BlueSHIFT has performed throughout Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

As an active composer, Francisco is privileged to have a wide variety of published works with several ensemble commissions from the University of Kentucky, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at Arlington, as well as solo commissions for a variety of artists throughout the US. His works are published by C. Alan Publications and Tapspace Publications.

In the marching arts, Francisco has played snare drum for The Cavaliers (2011 & 2012) and Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps (2010). In 2011, he helped secure the prestigious Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance under the direction of Mike McIntosh and Dr. Brian Tinkel. Additionally, he has served as arranger, visual designer, and instructor for various award-winning high school and college drumlines across the country.

Francisco received his Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master’s in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky under Prof. James Campbell. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University under Dr. Brian West.

Francisco proudly endorses Marimba One, Innovative Percussion, Black Swamp Percussion, and the Zildjian Company as an Educational Artist.

For more information about Francisco and his compositions/arrangements, please visit: www.perezperc.com