evelyn glennie, percussionist
“If you've never experienced Glennie, you shouldn't miss her. If you've heard her before, chances are you already have your tickets.”
--Washington Post
During the first ten years of Evelyn Glennie’s career virtually every performance she gave was in some way a first. The first time an orchestra had performed with a percussion soloist, the first solo percussion performance at a venue or festival or the world premiere of a new percussion concerto. To individually list all of Evelyn's awards and achievements is not only impossible, but a pointless exercise.
Evelyn gives more than 110 performances a year all over the world to universal critical acclaim from the toughest of reviewers in many of the world's most esteemed publications. The fact that Evelyn has performed with virtually all of the world's finest orchestras and greatest conductors in the most famous concert halls only proves that Evelyn is one of the world's top international concert soloists and the most in demand solo percussionist in the world. What takes Evelyn a step beyond the ranks of the elite is that she combines her superb technical abilities, a profound appreciation of the visual elements of percussion along with her astonishing musicality to create performances of such stunning vitality that they almost constitute a new type of performance. To this end, Evelyn has commissioned over ninety new works for solo percussion from many of the world's most talented composers. Despite all the advice to the contrary, Evelyn is not only the first person to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist in the history of classical music but is redefining the goals and expectations of percussion students, orchestras, concert promoters and the general public the world over.
Evelyn's recording career has been as illustrious as her performing career. Evelyn's first CD, a recording of Bartok's Sonata for two Pianos and Percussion, won her a Grammy in 1988. Rather than an ambition achieved, winning the most highly regarded recording prize in the world was only the first step for Evelyn. Subsequent solo recordings have earned a further two Grammy nominations, a Classic CD Award and great critical acclaim. Evelyn's twelfth solo CD, Shadow Behind the Iron Sun (BMG Records) was based on a radical concept and has once again questioned people's expectations. Despite working a relentless schedule Evelyn is in constant demand to release new recordings, her thirteenth and most recent disc was released in late 2000.
Outside of actual performance Evelyn excels in everything to which she turns her hand. From writing a best-selling autobiography, Good Vibrations, to hosting two series of her own television programs for the BBC. More recently, Evelyn has teamed up with Greg Malcangi, to compose, record and produce music for film and television. As in her performance career, Evelyn has already made a significant impact. Evelyn and Greg's first foray into the area of TV commercials resulted in such innovative music that it was subsequently paraphrased by others. Their first high quality drama produced a score so original they were nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award; the UK equivalent of the Oscars.
Evelyn Glennie has already achieved virtually every accolade or ambition of which any aspiring musician could possibly dream. Talking with Evelyn, either privately or on air, is a humbling experience. Seeing how unaffected she is by her amazing accomplishments is enough to make you question your understanding of what is possible. Evelyn herself, though, feels she has barely scratched the surface. She is still full of drive and enthusiasm and is brimming with ideas to improve the experience for the audience and redefine the very format of live performance itself. For more information on Evelyn Glennie, please visit her website at www.evelyn.co.uk.
