It is hard to be a world-class percussionist performing more than 100 times each year, but it’s even harder when you’re nearly deaf.
Dame Evelyn Glennie started losing her hearing as a music student and instead of switching majors, she decided to make her handicap an asset and take up percussion.
Twenty-five recordings and a Grammy later, Glennie balances her music career with motivational speaking gigs and jewelry design.
This week, Glennie will add the Eugene Symphony to her list of famous collaborations, including Bjork, Sting and even the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
She will perform at the Hult Center Thursday at 8 p.m., and to celebrate, the Symphony is screening a film about Glennie’s life.
“Touch the Sound,” an award-winning documentary that showcases Glennie’s skills, will screen today in 180 PLC at 7 p.m.
“Touch” follows the percussionist as she performs in New York, Germany and Tokyo and shares her unique experience as a deaf musician.
According to “Touch” director Thomas Riedelsheimer, Glennie uses rhythm as the basis of everything.
“From silence to music, from hearing to seeing and to feeling, sound is felt through every sense in our body,” he said.
Glennie will be available for questions after the film.
In addition to the film screening and concert, Glennie is offering a Master Class and a pre-concert lecture Wednesday.
Tickets for Glennie’s Eugene Symphony performance are $15 and can be purchased at eugenesymphony.org or by calling (541) 682-5000.
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Grammy winner to ‘touch the sound’
Daily Emerald
February 15, 2009
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