The Philadelphia Percussion Project consists of members of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s percussion section, under the direction of Don Liuzzi.

Before joining The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1989, Mr. Liuzzi was a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony percussion section from 1982 to 1989. While in Pittsburgh he taught percussion and conducted the percussion ensemble at Duquesne University, was assistant conductor of the Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra, and appeared on PBS’ nationally syndicated Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, performing marimba and percussion solos.

Angela Zator Nelson, associate principal timpani and section percussion, joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1999 as the first female percussionist ever hired by the Orchestra. A native of the Chicago area, Ms. Nelson graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Music where she studied with James Ross and Patricia Dash of the Chicago Symphony and with marimba virtuoso Michael Burritt. While in Chicago, Ms. Nelson was principal percussion of the Civic Orchestra for three years. In 2001, she obtained a masters degree in music performance from Temple University, where her principal instructor was Alan Abel of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Anthony Orlando was appointed to The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1972 by Eugene Ormandy. Prior to his appointment, he was principal percussion and/or timpani with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, the Opera Company of Philadelphia Orchestra, the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, the Lancaster Symphony, and the Trenton Symphony.

Project Director Don Liuzzi is joined by his Philadelphia Orchestra percussion colleagues, Anthony Orlando and Angela Zator Nelson and Philadelphia Orchestra violinists, Chantal Julliet and Hirono Oka, and alto saxophonist, Marshall Taylor, in spectacular performances by distinguished composers, Maurice Wright, Nick Rissman and William Kraft.