About the Project
Positive interaction across generations
Music education is already powerful, positive force in the development of young people. At the same time, new research continues to explore the beneficial effect that both music and interaction with young people can offer elders. Communitas 161 seeks to create a consistent space of mutual support for these consequential elements.
By presenting events featuring repertoire that students must learn as a core element of their curriculum, the effort they have already put in is given new life and purpose; serving their community!
By presenting events featuring repertoire that students must learn as a core element of their curriculum, the effort they have already put in is given new life and purpose; serving their community!
----
Communitas is a Latin word that may be defined as
1) spirit of community, kinship
2) fellowship
3) partnership, joint possession/use/participation
1) spirit of community, kinship
2) fellowship
3) partnership, joint possession/use/participation
About the Director
Kevin Rank is fascinated by the connection between music and identity. Kevin appears as a guest-artist and clinician in Dallas-Fort Worth and is also passionate about education and outreach.
Recently named a fellow to the Blackbird Creative Lab, Kevin established Sun Sneeze New Music in Dallas-Fort Worth during the fall of 2017. Sun Sneeze employs curated programming to forge earnest connections between initiate listeners and new music.In April of 2017, he created Communitas 161 which produces concerts in retirement/memory-care facilities performed by student volunteers aged eleven to eighteen. Other projects include performing Inuksuit at the Artosphere Festival with Third Coast Percussion and chamber performances at the Enfield Shaker Museum, Constellation Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. Kevin was the resident percussionist with the [Untitled] Festival in Dallas and featured in the premiere performance of the SYZYGY ensemble. Kevin performed beside Drew Lang on the premiere of G. Bradley Bodine's work, Namaste: Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble. He has performed with the Crescent Concert Series, the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, the Allen Philharmonic and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. Collaborators have included performers Matt Albert, She-e Wu, Chris Deviney, Rolando Morales-Matos, Jamal Mohamed and also composers Nina Shekhar, Ivan Trevino, Daniel Morel, Tim Feeney, and Alex Cooke.
Kevin has taught percussion through individual lessons, chamber ensembles, and Winter Guard International. He maintains a large private studio; student achievements include multiple performances at the Midwest Clinic and auditioning successfully into such institutions as the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, Indiana University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Cincinnati Conservatory. Students also successfully place within Texas All-Region/All-State Ensembles. He holds degrees from Rutgers University as well as Southern Methodist University,
Recently named a fellow to the Blackbird Creative Lab, Kevin established Sun Sneeze New Music in Dallas-Fort Worth during the fall of 2017. Sun Sneeze employs curated programming to forge earnest connections between initiate listeners and new music.In April of 2017, he created Communitas 161 which produces concerts in retirement/memory-care facilities performed by student volunteers aged eleven to eighteen. Other projects include performing Inuksuit at the Artosphere Festival with Third Coast Percussion and chamber performances at the Enfield Shaker Museum, Constellation Chicago, the Milwaukee Art Museum, and the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. Kevin was the resident percussionist with the [Untitled] Festival in Dallas and featured in the premiere performance of the SYZYGY ensemble. Kevin performed beside Drew Lang on the premiere of G. Bradley Bodine's work, Namaste: Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble. He has performed with the Crescent Concert Series, the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, the Allen Philharmonic and the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. Collaborators have included performers Matt Albert, She-e Wu, Chris Deviney, Rolando Morales-Matos, Jamal Mohamed and also composers Nina Shekhar, Ivan Trevino, Daniel Morel, Tim Feeney, and Alex Cooke.
Kevin has taught percussion through individual lessons, chamber ensembles, and Winter Guard International. He maintains a large private studio; student achievements include multiple performances at the Midwest Clinic and auditioning successfully into such institutions as the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, Indiana University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Cincinnati Conservatory. Students also successfully place within Texas All-Region/All-State Ensembles. He holds degrees from Rutgers University as well as Southern Methodist University,