Krissy Bergmark Tabla, Composition, Percussion
[email protected] www.krissybergmark.com 1730 Graham Ave, Apt 346, St. Paul, MN 55116 Tel 708.466.4424
Education
Master of Music - University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. 2012
Bachelor of Music - Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. 2010
Awards and Distinctions
Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant Recipient, 2018. Funding to compose and produce an album of original works featuring tabla in a modern acoustic instrumental setting. Minneapolis, MN.
International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music Participant, 2018. Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Cedar Commissions Recipient - Cedar Cultural Center, 2016. Project to compose piece for dancer, tabla, guitar, cello, and fiddle through “conversational composition” with dancer and choreographer Lauren Baker. Premiered at the Cedar Cultural Center in Feb.2017. Minneapolis, MN. 2016
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s Next Step Grant Recipient, 2016. Funding to travel for continued study with Master Tabla Player Pandit Yogesh Samsi and to compose for Matra in Mumbai, India.
Minnesota Percussive Arts Society Chapter Vice President. 2016 - present Responsibilities include holding chapter meetings, organizing a state-wide Day of Percussion, fundraising and management of funds.
Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop Participant, 2016. DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.
Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant Recipient, 2015. Funding for travel to continue studies with Master Tabla Player Pandit Yogesh Samsi and compose for Matra in Mumbai, India.
Minnesota Public Radio Class Notes Artist, 2015, 2017. With Matra in St. Paul, MN.
Undergraduate Special Opportunities in Artistry and Research Grant Recipient, 2009. Funding from Northern Illinois University to travel and study North Indian tabla drumming with Master Tabla Player Pandit Yogesh Samsi in Mumbai, India. Current Ensembles
Matra, 2012 - present. Matra is an eclectic mix of ethnic percussion, classical, and jazz influences. Krissy Bergmark - tabla, Mathew Solace - drums, Jenny Klukken - marimba, Andres Crovetti - vibraphone, Ryan Hays - upright bass.
A Sprig of That, 2017 - present. The group experiments with well-known fiddle tunes and Old Time classics, morphing them into sharp, virtuosic, modern arrangements. Krissy Bergmark - tabla, Isabel Dammann - violin, Ilan Blanck - guitar.
Duo with Ben Abrahamson, 2016 - present. This duo draws much of its influence from Flamenco guitar styles, with additional influences from Hindustani music and jazz. Krissy Bergmark - tabla, Ben Abrahamson - flamenco guitar.
Piciformes, 2016 - present. The blending of world, bluegrass, Old Time, and jazz create this ensemble’s style of original music. Krissy Bergmark - tabla, Sam Genualdi - electric guitar, Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose - banjo.
Work Wife, 2017. A combination of pre-existing duos featuring of marimba and tabla with cello and violin that focused on arrangements and original compositions. Krissy Bergmark - tabla, Jenny Klukken - marimba, Olivia Diercks - cello, Karla Colahan - violin. Professional Collaborations
Tyshawn Sorey Greg Herriges Simone Baron Rajna Swaminathan Matt Rahaim Robert Everest Val Jeanty Robert Everest Ernest Bisong Jason Baker Steven Hobert Peter Susag Sandeep Das Zack Kline Pavan Abigail Washburn Nick Gaudette Pooja Goswami Pavan Liam Teague Michael Vasich Emily Kastrul Cliff Alexis Sarah Pajunen Tara Loeper Gregory Beyer Cory Grossman
Compositions
Step, Skip, Leap, 2018. composed for Sprig of That in St. Paul, MN. 2018. To be premiered in Feb 2019 in Minneapolis, MN.
Eyes Closed, 2018. improvisatory piece for open instrumentation. Recorded at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity at the International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
The Line in the Sand, 2018. composed for Matra, premiered on Sept 2nd, 2018 at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis, MN.
Prayer, 2018. composed for Matra and the Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble. Premiered on April 16th in DeKalb, IL.
The Darkest Timeline, 2017. commissioned through the Cedar Commissions 2016, for fiddle, electric guitar, tabla, cello, and solo dancer. 2017 (Compositions cont’d)
Meterhey, 2016. made possible in part by the Jerome Foundation. Composed for Matra. Recording available on Matra’s self-titled album (2017).
10AM, 2016. made possible in part by the Jerome Foundation. Composed for Matra. Recording available on Matra’s self-titled album (2017).
The Real Moves, 2014 composed for Matra. Recording available on Matra’s self-titled album (2017).
Life in A Day, 2012. composed for Matra. Recording available on Matra’s self-titled album (2017).
Performances of Note
Matra with Orange Mighty Trio and The OK Factor at Icehouse Mpls in Minneapolis, MN. September, 2018. Show featuring new, original compositions by members of Matra.
Minnesota Percussion Association Day of Percussion Guest Artist Appearance with Matra at Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. January, 2018. Performed as guest artist to audience of 400 percussion students.
Featured Artist Concert - Matra at the John and Angeline Oremus Theater at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Park, IL. November, 2017.
Matra Album Release with Guests Jelloslave and Zack Baltich at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, MN. May, 2017. Matra released a full-length album of original works.
Cedar Commissions Concert on February 3rd, the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, MN. 2017. My original composition, The Darkest Timeline, was premiered alongside other Cedar Commissions Artists’ works.
Matra: Eastern and Western at the Southern, the Southern Theater in Minneapolis, MN. May, 2016. Matra’s first full-length concert of original works.
Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble Featured Performance at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, IN. 2009 Directors Robert Chappell and Gregory Beyer.
Percussive Arts Society 50th Anniversary Marimba Orchestra at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, IN. 2011 Conductors Tony McCutchen, Joel Leach, Chirstopher Norton, Alan Shinn, Gordon Stout, and David Eyler.
Publications
”The 50th Anniversary Marimba Orchestra: Echoes of the Past.” Minnesota Percussion News, The Newsletter of the Percussive Arts Society Minnesota Chapter, Vol. 20/No. 1, November 2011. Clinics
The Language of Tabla: The Basics of Indian Rhythm, Illinois Percussive Arts Society - Day of Percussion in Orland Park, IL. Mar. 2018
The Language of Tabla: The Basics of Indian Rhythm, Minnesota Percussion Association - Day of Percussion in Rosemount, MN. Jan. 2017
The Language of Tabla: Indian Rhythms in Improvisation, Minnesota Percussion Association - Day of Percussion in Rosemount, MN. Jan. 2015
Introduction to Four- Mallet Marimba, Maple Grove High School in Maple Grove, MN. Dec. 2013
Overview of Percussion Techniques, Maple Grove High School in Maple Grove, MN. Dec. 2013
Tabla - An Overview of Modern Tabla Drumming, University of Minnesota Percussion Studio in Minneapolis, MN. Oct. 2011
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Percussion Faculty, Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. 2018 - present Teaching collegiate-level private instruction to eight students.
Percussion Instructor, Lakeville South High School in Lakeville, MN. 2010 - present The curricular percussion instruction includes marching percussion, percussion ensembles, percussion class, steel band, and honors quartet. I also teach privately in the evenings.
Percussion Instructor, Farmington High School in Farmington, MN. 2012 - 2018 As the percussion instructor, I cover a wide variety of percussion education depending on the season and activity. These include marching percussion, winter drumline, winter percussion ensembles, and private lessons through Farmington Community Education.
Steel Band Camp Instructor, MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis, MN. 2015 I introduced students to new instruments,and the cultural and historical significance of these instruments. The camp culminated in a concert at the end of the week, during which students performed three pieces.
Percussion Instructor, Blaine High School in Blaine, MN. 2012 - 2016 This position included instruction for marching percussion in both the summer and fall seasons, as well as the Blaine Percussion Ensemble in the winter season.
Music Director, DrumHeart (The Women’s Drum Center) in St. Paul, MN. 2011 - 2014 Responsibilities included music selection, running rehearsals, evaluating auditionees, coordination of event performances.
Drum Instructor, Tween Town Rock and Roll Camp for Girls in Excelsior, MN. 2012, 2013 Responsibilities included three hour-long classes per day for the camp, which lasts four days.
Teaching Assistant, University of Minnesota Steel Band in Minneapolis, MN. 2010 - 2012 Directing the University Steel Band included rehearsing, arranging, and scheduling steel band rehearsals and sectionals.
Secondary Lesson Instructor, University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. 2010 - 2012 As a Secondary Lesson Teacher, I taught students wishing to learn percussion as a non-major, or those hoping to audition for the studio after entrance into the university. Applied Study
Primary Applied Study
Pandit Yogesh Samsi - private tabla lessons, Mumbai, India. 2009, 2016 - present.
Ty Burhoe - private tabla lessons (online), St. Paul, MN. 2018 - present.
Dr. Allalaghatta Pavan - tabla lessons, class, ensembles. Minneapolis, 2012 - 2016
Fernando Meza - private percussion lessons, University of Minnesota. 2010 - 2012
Gregory Beyer - private percussion lessons, Northern Illinois University. 2006 - 2010
Robert Chappell - private percussion lessons, group tabla lessons, Northern Illinois University. 2006-10
Rich Holly - mallet instruction, Northern Illinois University. 2007
Doug Bratt - private percussion lessons, Moraine Valley Community College. 2003 - 2006
Additional Applied Study
William Moersch Valerie Naranjo Patrick Schleker Orlando Cotto Julie Spencer Michael Spiro Adam Sliwinski of So Percussion
References
Dr. Gregory Beyer Professor and Director of Percussion Studies at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL [email protected] ! (646) 286-0332
Dr. Matthew Rahaim Professor and Ethnomusicologist at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. [email protected] ! (510) 725-7730
Douglass Bratt Professor and Director of Music at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL. [email protected] ! (630) 742-2599