MTSU - Jacksonville State University Percussion Ensemble - Dr. Matthew Jordan, Director

Instrumentation- Concert Bass Drum (sideways), 3 sets of bongos, 3 graduated toms

"Cruisin’ Through Fire is a groovy, exciting, and energetic multipercussion trio that utilizes a centralized bass drum and three identical setups that include two bongos and a concert tom for each player. The piece starts out with a bang, followed by a groove that is soon interrupted by another explosion before dying down to a calm and subdued texture. This texture does not last long, as it builds and intensifies into the second groove which remains constant under each performer’s fiery solo section. Immediately thereafter, the third groove seems to settle in but not for long. As the tempo increases for the last time, so does the volume and rhythmic demand for each player. One final fiery explosion occurs before the players race to the finish line, ultimately performing a bombastic ending to extinguish the blaze." -Jackson Riffle

Jackson Riffle is a performer, educator, composer, and arranger, originally from Pleasant Hill, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Music with concentrations in Piano and Percussion Performance from Wright State University, under the mentorship of Mr. Gerald Noble and Dr. Jackson Leung, and currently studies with Mr. Tim Adams in pursuit of his Master's at the University of Georgia. Jackson has appeared as a soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic, Wright State University Chamber Orchestra, Wright State University Symphony Orchestra, Kettering Civic Band, Greenville Municipal Band, Sinclair Community College Wind Symphony, and has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC), Hunstville Symphony Orchestra (AL), Springfield Symphony (OH), Richmond Symphony (Indiana), Carmel Symphony (IN), Dayton Bach Society/Oakwood Brass, for Dayton Public Radio as a guest artist, was a performing finalist for the “President’s Own” Marine Band’s Concerto competition, was the Adult Duet/Duo division winner for the 2019 Ohio MTA/Graves Piano Competition, and was the winner of the 2020 Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Agnes Fowler Competition. In the summers of 2020 and 2021, he received fellowships to attend the National Orchestral Institute + Festival and in the summer of 2018, Jackson attended the Brevard Music Festival, in North Carolina.

Jackson has appeared as a guest conductor with the Dayton Philharmonic Concert Band and the Greenville Municipal Band, and, as an educator, has served as a music clinician and instructor for many different schools across the state of Ohio, such as Kettering Fairmont High School, Grove City High School, Beavercreek High School, Troy High School, Milton Union High School, Marion Local High School, and Fort Loramie High School. As a composer and arranger, Jackson has written music for several schools including Grove City, Licking Heights, Fort Loramie, Troy Christian, and Newton High School Marching Bands. Jackson is also an arranger for Fannin Musical Productions, a published composer for Tapspace Publishing Company, and has received commissions to write for various organizations such as the Springfield Youth Symphony, Greenville Municipal Band, Wright State University Wind Symphony, and the Wright State University Percussion Ensemble.