Adams Impresses at the AIPF

No other group of instruments is as versatile as percussion. The boundary-crossing and ethnically diverse possibilities that percussion offers are inexhaustible, a fact recognized by major composers of the past century. Martin Grubinger and his Percussive Planet Ensemble bring all these styles together in their show The Century of Percussion, which recently played in all the major concert halls in Germany. The AIPF will open with this show on Saturday, September 9, at 8:30 PM. The special guest for this evening is none other than Thomas Lang, widely regarded as one of the best drummers in the world.

Drumworld Festival
The following day—Sunday, September 10—the annual Drumworld Festival takes place. On this day, renowned drummers present a series of showcases filled with useful tips, new ideas, and fascinating anecdotes. With Simon Philips (Toto), Anika Nilles, Thomas Lang, Will Kennedy, Wim de Vries, and Martin Frosch, this year’s lineup is undoubtedly the best in the history of the award-winning festival.

Academy Days
From Tuesday, September 12 to Friday, September 15, the AIPF’s academy days will feature. During these days, percussion experts will conduct a series of masterclasses and workshops for (professional) students, teachers, and other enthusiasts. The program is nothing short of exceptional. Timpanists can learn from Nick Woud (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), Raymond Curfs (Bayerische Rundfunk), and Benoit Cambreling (Orchestre National de Lyon). For mallets and chamber music, lessons will be provided by ARD winner Simone Rubino, Emmanuel Séjourné, Ludwig Albert, Ruud Wiener, and the Chinese rising star Jeanni Zhang. Graham Johns (Liverpool Philharmonic) will give a special workshop for orchestral percussionists.

Special Concerts
The AIPF is also filled with performances. In addition to the spectacular opening night, several remarkable concerts will take place. One highlight is the performance of Canto Ostinato, Simeon ten Holt’s masterpiece, played by renowned Dutch pianist Ivo Janssen and the Amsterdam Mallet Collective in the Abbey Church of Thorn on Thursday evening, September 14. Other concerts include performances by the duo Reynaert/Séjourné, Ludwig Albert, and the Jianli Percussion Group from Beijing.

Special Factory Tour
To conclude an exciting week, a special tour of the Adams percussion factory is planned. During this tour, musical surprises will be offered at various locations in the factory, along with stops where visitors will be treated to dinner.