Distinguished Percussionist, Composer and Academic Dave Gerhart Plays Yamaha

 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Yamaha Corporation of America, Band and Orchestral Division, is pleased to announce its relationship with nationally recognized percussionist, composer and educator Dr. Dave Gerhart.

Gerhart, who is Director of Percussion Studies at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, began his relationship with the company when Yamaha's Troy Wollwage visited the campus in 2009 to learn more about their percussion program.

"Given our proximity of the Yamaha offices, Troy wanted to reach out and connect with local percussion directors and programs," recalls Gerhart. "About a year later, he asked me to visit Yamaha's Buena Park headquarters to offer my feedback and impressions on a prototype instrument. From then on, I kept in contact with Troy and other Yamaha folks at various events and conventions."

In addition to the CSULB Percussion Ensemble, Gerhart also directs the Steel Drum Orchestra, World Percussion Group, the University Percussion Ensemble and University Percussion Group and teaches applied lessons.

Gerhart cites durability – as well as superior sound – as the key factors in choosing Yamaha instruments. "I buy a lot of Yamaha hardware for the university because I know it is going to hold up in our percussion program. I thoroughly enjoy teaching on our five-octave marimba because of the beautiful, resonant quality throughout the range of the instrument."

Originally from Fairfield, California, Gerhart holds a D.M.A. from the University of Southern California in Percussion Performance with a secondary emphasis in Music Education, Ethnomusicology and Music Industry & Technology. He received a M.M. in Percussion Performance and Instrumental Conducting and a B.M. in Music Education from California State University, Long Beach. Gerhart has been featured on CDs with the IronWorks Percussion Duo, the Robin Cox Ensemble and Steven Hartke on Sonic Scenery for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. As a freelance musician, Dave has performed under Zubin Mehta, Mehli Mehta, and has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Kamen, Yefim Bronfman, Ray Holman and Robert Greenidge.

"Dave's many accomplishments, his talent and his enthusiasm for his craft make him an ideal ambassador for the Yamaha brand," says Troy Wollwage, Percussion Marketing Manager, Yamaha Corporation of America. "We value his input and look forward to continued, fruitful collaborations in the future."

Gerhart recently attended the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Austin, Texas, where he presented a session called "Steel Band Literature: New Directions, Styles and Sources" along with Tony McCutchen and CJ Menge. Gerhart's original steel drum composition, Samba de los Changitos, was recently published by BoxFish Music Publishing. Released at PASIC 2012, it is also available at www.boxfish.com.

Gerhart is also currently recording a second CD with his group, the IronWorks Percussion Duo (along with Axel Clarke, also a Yamaha artist). Slated for release by the summer of 2013, the CD will feature new compositions that were submitted to the group's Annual Composition Competition (http://4wrd.it/IRONWORKS).

Learn more about the artist at http://4wrd.it/GERHARTWEB.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit http://4wrd.it/YAMAHAUSA.