BENJAMIN
YANCEY
Percussionist
BIOGRAPHY
Benjamin Yancey received his Doctorate in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy with a secondary area of Ethnomusicology from the University of Iowa in the summer of 2018. Currently based in the Iowa City area, he serves as adjunct professor of percussion at the University of Iowa, Iowa Wesleyan University, Monmouth College, and Kirkwood Community College. Yancey also serves as the drumline technician at Liberty High School and as percussion arranger for the Rock Bridge High School marching band.
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An active performer and clinician, Yancey has performed with such groups as Orchestra Iowa, Flori Mezzo, the PANdalerium steel band, and the PASIC 2017 All Star Steel Band. He has served as clinician and adjudicator at such events as the NAFME New Ideas in Music Education Conference, Pleasant Valley Solo Festival, the St. Ambrose University Honor Band Festival, Central States Marching Festival and the Bonner Springs Marching Festival. In the fall of 2018, he served as co-producer of the University of Iowa Steel Band album Jungle Music, which featured steel pan virtuoso Andy Narell as guest soloist.
Yancey received his Master’s in Music from Kansas State University, where he studied with Dr. Kurt Gartner and Neil Dunn and served as arranger and instructor for the Kansas State Drumline. He earned his Bachelor’s of Music degree from the University of Central Florida under the direction of Jeff Moore, Kirk Gay and Dr. Thad Anderson. During his undergraduate collegiate years, he also studied with Florida Orchestra’s principle percussionist John Shaw and Washburn University professor Dr. Tom Morgan.
MEDIA
Glow by Dave Molk
Arranged by Ben Yancey for Marimba, Double Bass, Electronics and Video.
With the permission of composer Dave Molk, I arranged his work Glow for marimba, double bass and electronics (via Ableton). This recording is set to the film The Space In Between by Void Visuals and features Nick Bowes on Double Bass.
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FLUIDITY by Ben Yancey
An original composition that features a film by London based artist Ben Jones. In the piece I use the program Ableton Live to incorporate video, acoustic sounds, and electronics into one work. Through the use of audio processing, all sounds are produced live using a single 12-key kalimba.
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Karakurenai by Andy Akiho
Andy Akiho's Karakurenai adapted for electronics, cajon and steel pan by Ben Yancey and Emily Roane. Using the computer program Ableton Live, all electronic sounds are produced live via either audio effects on the steel pan, or by the Novation's Launchpad Pro.
A Man With a Gun Lives Here - Steven Snowden
Steven Snowden's percussion trio, A Man With A Gun Lives Here is performed by Christine Augspurger, Emily Roane, and Ben Yancey
STEEL BAND
Research
Doctoral Thesis - PATTERNS IN SYMMETRY: APPROACHING STEELPAN TECHNIQUE, PERFORMANCE AND TEACHING THROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING OF INSTRUMENT DESIGN
Master's Thesis - AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PERCEIVED IMPACT OF THE INCLUSION OF STEEL PAN ENSEMBLES IN COLLEGIATE CURRICULA IN THE MIDWEST
Midday Oasis by Sam Bruton
Arranged by John Wooten
Directed by Ben Yancey
John Wooten's arrangement of Midday Oasis, performed by the University of Iowa Intermediate Steel Band under the direction of Ben Yancey. Solo by Peter Naughton.
Catalog 1961 - John Whitney
Score for Steel Band by Ben Yancey
John Whitney's iconic short film Catalog 1961 scored for steel band by Ben Yancey. This is a minimalist work for steel band that features a driving pulse, mixed meter, syncopation, and non-traditional implements. This work was premiered by the University of Iowa Intermediate Steel Band in the Spring of 2017.
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Have You Met Alex? by Ben Yancey
An original composition for the beginning steel band, Have You Met Alex? features an easy listening melody in a funky reggae style. This recording comes from its premier by the All University Steel Band (beginning band) at the University of Iowa on the Fall 2018 Steel Band concert.
