About
SunSneeze!
SunSneeze is a new music project based in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Modern classical music is most often the work of living composers. These contemporary, musical scribes have have been influenced by an incredible variety of styles and traditions. Many cite the influence of classical masters as well as more recent forms like rock, bluegrass, or hip-hop. Designed or processed sound is another idea that continues to develop within classical music. Timeless ideas like joy, celebration, and nature show continued influence too!
With our first event, we aim to program works that embrace these contemporary influences with the goal of new audience members deciding that they've been new music fans all along!
Soprano Corrie Donovan has been praised for her “soul stripping, lyrical” interpretations (TheaterJones) and her “polished and distinctively powerful” performances (Fort Worth Weekly). Corrie engages audiences in exploring a wide range of styles, languages, and performances. From premiers with Fort Worth Opera’s Modern Opera Showcases, to participating in Cirque Du Soleil’s vocal workshops in Mexico, Mrs. Donovan is committed to the full range of vocal expression. Other credits include the New York Baroque Festival, and singing opera in Brazil on the Holland America Maasdam.
Corrie sang with the Fort Worth Opera Young Artist Studio for five seasons as principle and guest artist. She debuted in Philip Glass’s chamber opera, Hydrogen Jukebox and starred in the world premier of Crozier’s With Blood, With Ink, Mark Adamo’s Lysistrata, and Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers in Virginia.
Kevin Rank is a percussionist and contemporary music advocate. He is fascinated in the connection between music and memory; he endeavors to develop new works with modern composers. Selected projects include The Artosphere Festival's performance of “Inuksuit” with Third Coast Percussion, founding the new music project “SunSneeze” in Dallas-Fort Worth, premiere performances at Chicago's Constellation as part of the 'fresh inc' music festival, and serving as resident percussionist with "The [Untitled] Festival" in Dallas.
As an educator, Kevin has taught percussion through individual lessons, chamber ensembles, and Winter Guard International. He maintains a studio that brims with private students.
In spring of 2017 he launched "Communitas 161;" a concert project which brings student performers from multiple districts into retirement communities.
Corrie Donovan
Kevin Rank
Currently based in Dallas, TX, versatile Canadian musician Michael van der Sloot has collaborated with world-renowned artists and ensembles as both composer and cellist, and actively performs as a chamber musician and soloist with a focus on new music. His compositions reflect his dual experience as a performer and composer and often explore this relationship. Also a dedicated teacher, Mr. van der Sloot is committed to helping foster passion for music and applied skills in interested musicians at any age. Mr. van der Sloot holds graduate degrees in both cello performance and composition from Northwestern University and Southern Methodist University, respectively.
Outside of musical pursuits, he is an avid hockey fan, generally prefers the company of dogs over humans, and spends as much time as possible away in the mountains. He plays a 2010 cello by Wayne Burak, a maker in the Dallas area.
Bronwyn is a classically trained percussionist - turned singer-songwriter working out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
She splits her time between the two disciplines, which makes for some very original sounding songs. She holds degrees in classical percussion from the Eastman School of Music, Boston University, and Duquesne University.
Her upcoming EP Minds Somewhere Else is slated to release in October of 2017, on which she sings, plays some of the drums, and all of the percussion.
Michael van der Sloot
Bronwyn Higgins
Sarah Cranor is passionate about both early and new music, and the related
freedom of sonic possibilities in music from these opposite time periods.
freedom of sonic possibilities in music from these opposite time periods.
She is an Associate Instructor at the Jacobs School of Music, where she is pursuing her Doctor of Music degree in historical performance, music education, and modern violin. Sarah performs with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, the Bloomington Bach Cantata Series, the Indiana University New Music Ensemble, and the IU Classical Orchestra.
Recent collaborations include commissioning “Partita for Sarah” for solo baroque violin by Jake Gunnar Wash (which will be recorded March, 2018), performing at the Berwick Academy at the Oregon Bach Festival, the Junges Stuttgarter Bach Ensemble and the Weimarer Bachkantaten-Akademie. She performed a Guest Artist Recital at Western State Colorado University, performed at the new music festival “fresh inc" and the Amherst Early Music Festival. Sarah also produced and performed in “Strings for Kinshasa," a benefit concert for the Kinshasa Symphony in the Congo.
Patrick Herring began playing music at a very early age and hated it with a passion until they let him start hitting things.
Since then he has received a Bachelor in Music Education from the University of North Texas and Masters in Percussion Performance from Southern Methodist University. Music has taken him all around the United States and he has proudly played shows in 40 out of 50 states. He’s looking forward to getting up to New England someday and knocking out a few more of them.
He currently serves as the principal percussionist of the Allen Philharmonic Symphony and also performs with many local and regional orchestras, theater companies, churches, and anyone else that needs something hit musically.
Patrick lives in Little Elm with his wife, son, and two beagles and in his spare time creates instructional videos on how to play percussion for his website
www.patrickherring.com
Sarah Cranor
Patrick Herring
Steven Washington regularly performs with his jazz trio Fourte, Imperial Brass, teaches percussion lessons in Frisco ISD, and works for a non-profit in the North Dallas area.
He had the privilege of being a Private Lesson Instructor and Assistant Percussion Director in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD for 5 years and Percussion Director at North Mesquite HS for 2 years. He served as Bass Tech for the Spokane Thunder drum corps, drummer for the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm n’ Blue drumline, instructor at TCU’s Sounds of Summer drum camp, and guest clinician at local high and middle schools are among opportunities Steven has been honored to have. He lives in Prosper, Tx with his amazing wife and two sons.
Steven graduated from Texas Christian University in 2009 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.
Austin Allen previously served as Principal Timpanist for the Butler Symphony. Additional performances include work with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, DuBoise Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Brass, SCKPPY ensemble, NOW Ensemble, New England Conservatory Philharmonic, and the Harvard Symphony Orchestra. He was featured on NPR's radio program "From the Top" and has released a jazz fusion album on which he plays vibraphone, percussion, and piano.
Austin has won various competitions including the Western PA Percussive Arts Society Snare Drum Competition, the Duquesne Women's Advisory Board Competition, as well as the Duquesne Orchestral Concerto competition.
Austin is also a consummate composer, known primarily for percussion solo repertoire and chamber works featuring the vibraphone.
Austin has won various competitions including the Western PA Percussive Arts Society Snare Drum Competition, the Duquesne Women's Advisory Board Competition, as well as the Duquesne Orchestral Concerto competition.
Austin is also a consummate composer, known primarily for percussion solo repertoire and chamber works featuring the vibraphone.
Austin is a Teaching Assistant at Southern Methodist University working toward a Performance Diploma Degree. He holds a masters degree from the New England Conservatory.
Steven Washington
Austin Allen