About

Vision

Tócalo Tucson is a formalized summer chamber music seminar for percussionists to expand their chamber music performance abilities. Through the use of daily rehearsal blocks, clinics, master-classes, private coachings, and performances with notable guest artists, participants are able to focus on strengthening specific-chamber related musical skills while working on notable chamber works in preparation for performance on two dedicated concerts.

If you are a percussionist passionate about your art, and want to be become better at what you do, the Tócalo Tucson Summer Chamber and Composition Seminar is the place to be! Over the course of eight days each June, Tócalo Tucson offers unprecedented access to some of the most famous chamber percussionist-composers. Participants are immersed in a unique learning environment, practicing, and rehearsing together at the University of Arizona’s, Fred Fox School of Music in beautiful Tucson, Arizona, culminating in two dedicated chamber percussion concerts.

People 2024

2024 Faculty & Guests Artists!

Artistic Director

Morris Palter
Faculty

Casey Cangelosi
Guest Artist

Anders Astrand

Artistic Director

Morris Palter

Faculty

Casey Cangelosi

Percussionist and Composer, Casey Cangelosi is the Director of Percussion Studies at James Madison University. He is commonly hosted world-wide by educational institutions, music festivals, and educational seminars. Casey has been a visiting guest artist in Italy, Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Croatia, Sweden, Taiwan, and widely across the U.S. at events including the The Midwest Clinic and PASIC Showcase Concerts. Casey is a regularly commissioned composer and from the percussion community called the “Paganini of Percussion” and “The voice of a new generation”.

Guest Artist

Anders Astrand

As a mallet specialist, Åstrand regularly performs and gives clinics throughout the US, Latin America, Australia, and Europe. With his percussion ensemble, Global Percussion Network, he has toured extensively in Sweden, Europe, the USA and South Korea.

Åstrand focuses on melodic and rhythmical improvisation, an essential feature also in his compositions. Åstrand has been commissioned to compose for brass quintets, saxophone quartet, choirs, and big band. A more spectacular side features compositions for ice instruments to be performed by percussion ensemble (one of the concerts also featured fighter aircraft as instruments), tractors, and an entire building being inaugurated. Åstrand has also composed music for multimedia performances including dance, video projections, ice instruments, and fire sculptures. Just formed a new group !! Together with Dave Samuels, Anna Dager and Hanna Ekström check out for

Anders Åstrand collaborates with Swedish as well as international musicians: He is a sought after percussion clinician, but has also led several choir projects both in Europe and in the US.

Anders Åstrand has several times performed at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention). Since 2008 Anders Åstrand is International Education Orchestral Consultant for Zildjian.

Anders Åstrand plays Yamaha instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth mallets, Evans drumheads and Latin Percussion. For information about compositions by Anders Åstrand, please visit www.andersastrand.com

Administrative Team

Special Events Coordinator

Tiffney Johnson
Faculty Liaison

Alana Wiesing

Special Events Coordinator

Tiffney Johnson

After 15 years as a Foreign Service Officer and State Department Diplomat, Tiffney recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the James E. Rogers College of Law (University of Arizona). She is currently a free-lance legal consultant helping attorneys solve complex immigration issues. She is also a four year member of the CrossTALK electronic percussion ensemble where she both plays and sings with the group. As special events coordinator, she manages marketing, social events, and logistics related to the guest artists and participants. Her super powers include XL spreadsheet wizardry, and cat whispering.

Faculty Liaison

Alana Wiesing

Alana Wiesing is a multi-faceted and award-winning timpanist and percussionist from Phoenix, AZ. She holds a Master of Music degree in percussion performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, IN, where she also completed her undergraduate studies. Her primary teachers were Bill Wanser and John Tafoya. During her time in the Midwest, she notably served as the Principal Timpanist of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra as well as a regular substitute and extra percussionist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Alana is currently based in Tucson, AZ, where she serves as the Principal Timpanist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. In her free time, Alana enjoys sports, cooking, television, trivia, concerts, museums, and spending time with family and friends.

Tócalo Tangents

“Tócalo Tangents” is an off-shoot concert series that runs throughout the year in Tucson, Arizona. These concerts speak to the spirit of Tócalo Tucson, featuring both solo and chamber concerts at prominent venues and performance spaces. Please check back for updates!

Upcoming Concerts:

CrossTALK electronic percussion ensemble performs at the TENWEST Festival, Sunday, October 20th, 5pm

Testamonials

“Attending Tócalo Tucson is a great way for percussionists to go deep into Chamber music and your own musicianship, and to work closely with dedicated musicians and composers! What a treat for your music making!!”

Anders Astrand

Guest Artist, 2019

“It was an honor to participate in the 2018 Tócalo Tucson summer chamber percussion seminar. It was a fun week of immersion into the world of percussion music, under the beautiful southwest sun, including an amazing nature hike in the Sonora Desert. Performing in the finale concert along with Morris and Casey Cangelosi in a program of wonderfully engaging music, and sharing in the positive spirit displayed by each and every participant, was a special treat. The Tócalo Tucson experience was without a doubt time well spent.”

Bill Cahn

Guest Artist, 2018

“…such an easy recommendation to make – check out Tocalo Tucson!”

Casey Cangelosi

Guest Artist, 2018

“Tócalo Tucson – Great students, great facilities, and a great host. Don’t miss the next one!” 

Bob Becker

Guest Artist, 2019

“TT offers a valbuable chance for emerging composers to work closely with talented musicians on newly commissioned pieces. Composers’ works are rehearsed extensively and performed in a world-class concert. The whole experience is energetic and professional while also aoffering ample time to discuss music, hang out with new friends, and experience and beautiful natural surroundings of Arizona.

A diverse mix of faculty from the the world offered a wide breadth of knowledge to the participants, and everyone worked together to achiece the best musical outcome. Morris and his staff created an incredibly effective and well-produced festival – a must experience event for young composers and percussionists.”

Matthew Burtner

Guest Artist, 2019