Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 467 - Ken Shorley
Acadia University (NS) Percussion Professor, as well as Freelancer, Composer, and Researcher Ken Shorley stops by to talk about his unusual faculty position at Acadia, his Freelancing career, traveling and studying musics of the world, and forming a performing duo with his wife (03:40), the Canadian Percussion Network and The Space Between conferences (43:25), growing up in Southern Ontario, along with discussions of his musical and literary influences (52:40), attending York University (ON) for undergrad and sticking around Toronto after graduation before moving to Nova Scotia (01:05:25), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments about physicality in percussion performance, classic movies, the author Helen Humphreys, and memorable live performances (01:20:15).Finishing with a Rave on the 2025 film One Battle After Another (01:39:40).Ken Shorley links:Ken Shorley’s homepageKen Shorley’s YouTube pagePrevious Podcast Guests Mentioned:Shawn Mativetsky from 2023Other Links:Sahara JaneFolk Music OntarioNova Scotia Music WeekNeil PeartTrichy SankaranJohn Brownell“Within You Without You” - The BeatlesEverygreen Club Contemporary GamelanSimon CookNovation Launchpad seriesTorQ Percussion QuartetThelonious MonkJohn ColtraneBlue RodeoThe Tragically HipThe Indigo GirlsRaves:One Battle After Another trailer
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Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 466 - Mike Mixtacki
University of Tennessee-Knoxville Adjunct Professor of Percussion Mike Mixtacki stops by to talk about his new gig, his many jobs in the college world so far, and connecting to the Eastern Tennessee percussion community (02:10), growing up in Madison (WI), his percussion and piano background, earning his Eagle Scout badge, and playing in lots of bands in his early years (21:15), attending the University of Wisconsin for undergrad and Indiana University for his master’s (39:10), working at Northern Illinois University (01:02:50), the University of Texas at San Antonio (01:10:40), his years at Texas Tech University and the importance of having regular life and job discussions with one’s partner (01:17:30), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on cooking situations, bad action movies, Star Wars culture, Culver’s, current events podcasts, and reflecting on the life of Alan Shinn (01:31:30).Finishing with a Rave on the Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked (01:57:50).Mike Mixtacki Links:Mike Mixtacki’s websiteMike Mixtacki’s Innovative Percussion websitePrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Andy Bliss from 2023Erin Walker Bliss from 2024Liam Teague from 2025Sherry Rubins from 2016Ben Wahlund from 2025Lisa Rogers from 2017Alan Shinn from 2021Other Links:Kevin ZetinaKeith BrownRobert ChappellAnthony Di SanzaVicki Jenks“Down with the Sickness” - Disturbed“Psychosocial” - Slipknot“Bacalao Con Pan” - IrakereChucho Valdés Tiny Desk Concert“Quimbara” - Celia Cruz & The Fania All StarsTito Puente on Sesame StreetMichael SpiroBirch Creek Music Performance CenterEugene NovotneyJoe GalvinBrian MuellerSteve HoughtonJamie RyanJesus DiazRaul PinedaEd SmithGraeme FrancisJesse WillisJonathan TomaselloTen Summoners Tales - StingSeverance trailerAndor trailerJason StathamLiam NeesonZero Day trailerCuba and its Music - Ned SubletteCulver’sMehdi Hasan and Mark RuffaloThe Ezra Klein ShowRaves:Wicked - Gregory Maguire
New York City-based freelancing percussionist and educator Shelby Blezinger-McCay stops by to talk about her job activities, moving to NY from grad school, and her experiences work with So Percussion (03:00), subbing for Broadway shows, NYC transit, and visiting Long Island (23:00), growing up near Dallas, her DCI years, and playing tennis (37:50), her undergrad years at Auburn University (AL) and her experiences of the Alabama-Auburn rivalry (52:15), her grad school years at the University of North Texas and her year performing with the World Percussion Group (01:08:25), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including discussions of intense opinions, being a woman in the percussion field, horror movies, cycling and tennis, and composer Heather Christian (01:30:15).Finishing with a Rave on the recent collaboration between Marching Mizzou and His Majesty’s Royal Marines (01:56:15).Shelby Blezinger-McCay links:Shelby’s Maestra websitePrevious Podcast Links:Brian Zator in 2017Mark Ford in 2023She-e Wu in 2025Raychel Taylor in 2020Pauline Roberts in 2024Other Links:So PercussionWorld Percussion GroupValerie NaranjoEd Smith“INUKSUIT” - John Luther Adams
Minot State University (ND) Percussion Professor Mariah Taller stops by to talk about her job and getting acclimated to the community there (02:35), her doctoral research on Julie Spencer (21:35), growing up in South Bend (IN), her early experiences in large ensembles, learning marimba concerti, and swimming in high school (32:00), attending Depauw University (IN) for undergrad (44:20), Stephen F. Austin State University (TX) for her master’s (56:30), Texas Tech University for her doctorate (01:08:20), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on triangle technique, making pizza, Bridesmaids, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Taylor Swift, and the Chicago White Sox (01:23:00).Finishing with a Rave on a recent concert by Mariachi Los Portillos (01:48:45).Mariah Taller links: Mariah Taller’s Minot State webpagePrevious Podcast Guests Mentioned:Julie Spencer in 2021Lisa Rogers in 2017Brad Meyer in 2021Bonnie Whiting in 2020Kathleen Kastner in 2017Lamon Lawhorn in 2020Ben Tomlinson in 2023Other Links:Julie Spencer on the @Percussion PodcastGarwood WhaleyConcertino for Marimba and Orchestra - Paul CrestonMarimba Concerto No. 2 - Ney Rosauro'Ming-Hui Kuo“Cold Pressed” - Dave Hollinden“Canned Heat” - Eckhard KopetzkiSuite for Marimba - Alfred Fissinger“Psappha” - Iannis XenakisBridesmaids trailerJurassic World Dominion trailerSisterhood of the Traveling Pants trailerThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann BrasharesKen Kwapis“Let’s Go Crazy” - PrinceRed - Taylor Swift2005 Chicago White Sox highlightsHacienda RestaurantPolitos South BendLate Night with Seth MeyersRaves:Mariachi Los Portillos - NW Arkansas
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Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 463 - Gustavo Miranda
Nicholls State University (LA) Percussion Professor Gustavo Miranda stops by to talk about his job and his freelancing in the Louisiana area (02:35), the Ninkasi Quartet (18:10), growing up in Brazil, his early music background on guitar, his experiences playing soccer and surfing, and heavy metal (26:10), his undergrad musical experiences in Brazil and his interactions with many in the percussion community at the time (58:35), his master’s and doctoral degree time at LSU with Brett Dietz (01:11:20), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on inspiring literature choices, impressions, Fogo de Châo, and the video game Destiny (01:29:00).Finishing with a Rave on Al Pacino’s memoir Sonny Boy and his 2024 appearance on WTF with Marc Maron (02:00:00).Gustavo Miranda Links:Gustavo Miranda’s Nicholls State pageGustavo Miranda’s Pearl Drum pageNinkasi Percussion GroupPrevious Podcast Guests mentioned:Oliver Molina in 2021Joe W. Moore III in 2017Jeff Barudin in 2018William Moersch in 2019Tom Burritt in 2021Jeff Moore in 2023Mark Ford in 2023Other Links:Brett DietzLonny BenoitJeff ProsperieGuy GauthreauxAmerican Suite - Guy GauthreauxGreg LyonsMarc MellitsHymns for Ninkasi - Brett DietzSusan Powell“Saëta” - Elliott Carter“Run to the Hills” - Iron Maiden“Arise” - Sepultura“Spain” - Chick Corea“Tornado” - Mitch Markovich“Yellow After the Rain” - Mitchell PetersAnthony Cirone“Teardrops” - Mitchell Peters“Two Mexican Dances” - Gordon StoutNey RosauroDavid Stock“Merlin” - Andrew ThomasFogo de ChåoLord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring trailerThor: Love and Thunder trailerBreaking Bad trailerThe Office trailerGame of Thrones trailerAngels & Demons - Robert LangdonDestiny video game seriesRaves:Sonny Boy - Al PacinoWTF with Marc Maron - Al Pacino
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