Percussion artist, composer, and educator Dr. Gene Koshinski (b. 1980) has delighted audiences worldwide with his dynamic performances and creative programming. Koshinski serves as Associate Professor of Percussion at the University of Minnesota Duluth and is well known for his extraordinary versatility as a solo, chamber, symphonic, jazz, pop, and world music artist. He has performed in Argentina, Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Jordan, Slovenia, Canada, and throughout the United States. Most recently, Koshinski was invited to perform at the 2014 International Patagonia Percussion Festival in General Roca, Argentina.

In 2002, Koshinski won the National MTNA Percussion Competition in Cincinnati, OH and in 2004, finished 3rd in the prestigious Universal Marimba Duo Competition in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. As a composer, Koshinski was named the recipient of the 2012 ASCAP Foundation Nissim Prize for best new score for large ensemble for his work Concerto for Marimba and Choir.

Throughout his career, Koshinski has worked with many notable performing organizations and artists including NFL Films, Late Show with David Letterman, Mary Wilson (the Supremes), David Samuels, Wycliffe Gordon, Tom Harrell, Bob Sheppard, Denis Diblasio, David Bixler, Philadelphia Boys Choir, The Lettermen, Hartford Symphony, Minnesota Ballet, Percussive Arts Society International Convention (6 appearances), and is currently principal percussionist for the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and a member of Nebojsa Zivkovic’s Jovan Perkussion Projekt. For his work with NFL Films, he can be heard on the Emmy award-winning soundtrack A Century of NFL. Performances have also been heard on the CBS, PBS, and ESPN television networks as well as NPR. In addition, he has recorded for the Naxos, Innova, MSR Classics, and Equilibrium record labels.

Koshinski is a founding member of the Quey Percussion Duo, a touring group established to generate new works for percussion while also bringing standard repertoire to a broad audience. He also serves as Director of Percussion at the annual 6-week Performing Arts Institute International Summer Music Festival in Kingston, PA. He recently published a method book entitled The Additive Method of Two-Mallet Study, which focuses on keyboard percussion technique and performance. As an advocate for new music, Koshinski has commissioned and premiered works by renowned composers including Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Luther Adams, Stuart Saunders Smith, Alejandro Viñao, David Macbride, and Dave Hollinden.

Koshinski holds degrees from West Chester University (BM) and The Hartt School (MM and DMA). His method books, solo albums, and over 20 published compositions are distributed internationally, with many of his compositions receiving frequent global performances. Gene Koshinski is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society and is sponsored by Pearl/Adams Instruments, Sabian Cymbals, Remo, and Innovative Percussion and his works are published by HoneyRock, Bachovich, and C. Alan Publications.

The CD offers a great mix of various percussion genres, is packed with great performances, and has something for everyone. I have had this CD in my car for the past month, and every time I listen to it, I hear something new and exciting. I commend Koshinski and all the players for their performances, recording, and programming of this disc. ~ Dave Gerhart percussive notes 74 MAY 2012