#457 I-Jen Fang- Percussionist, Soloist, Educator, and More!
This week’s guest is I-Jen Fang. Described as an “intrepid percussionist” by Fanfare Magazine, I-Jen Fang has a career as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teacher. She joined the faculty of the Music Department at the University of Virginia in 2005 and serves as the Principal Timpanist and Percussionist of the Charlottesville Symphony.
As a soloist, I-Jen has performed in Taiwan, U.S., Austria, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and South Africa. She was also the featured marimba soloist with the Charlottesville Symphony in 2006 and 2010.
As a chamber musician, I-Jen has performed or recorded with artists such as Keiko Abe, Gregory Beyer, William Cahn, Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Dave Hall, Edward Janning, Heini Kärkkäinen, Sivan Magen, Vladimir Mendelssohn, Jan Müller-Szeraws, Diane Pascal, Minna Pensola, Carsten Schmidt, Ed Smith, Nanik Wenton, Nyoman Wenton, EcoSono Ensemble, Cantata Profana, Attacca Percussion Group, DaCapo Chamber Players, Victory Hall Opera and Charlottesville Opera. She has appeared in Staunton Music Festival, Wintergreen Festival, Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, Heritage Theater Festival, Greencastle Summer Music Festival (IN), DRUMFEST XXVIII (Poland), International Viola Congress, National Flute Association Convention, Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS) Conference, Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) and Regional PAS Day of Percussion. She is also a founding member, with Ayn Balija, of the Piedmont Duo, which explores the sonic possibilities of the viola and percussion. In 2024, the duo was invited to perform in Hungary and Brazil.
An advocate of New Music, I-Jen was the director of the UVA New Music Ensemble for 14 years. The ensemble collaborated with composer/improviser George Lewis, flutist Claire Chase, and performed for composers such as Phillip Glass and Christian Wolff. She has also commissioned and/or premiered works by JoVia Armestrong, Jon Bellona, Matt Boehler, Becky Brown, Matthew Burtner, Cameron Church, Ted Coffey, Kevin Davis, Christopher Deane, Erik DeLuca, Aurie Hsu, André Mehmari, Sarah O’Halloran, Chris Peck, Leah Reid, Judith Shatin, Brian Simalchik, Ed Smith, D.J. Sparr, Max Tfirn, Zachary Wadsworth, Kristina Warren, and Michele Zaccagnini.
A lover of Gamelan Music, I-Jen was a member of Makan Malam Gamelan Ensemble (TX) and Charlottesville Javanese Gamelan Ensemble (VA). Other than studying with Ed Smith in Texas, she also studied Gamelan Gender Wayang under the tutelage of I Ketut Madri in Bali. In 2005 and 2009, she was invited to perform at PASIC on the Gamelan Gender Wayang.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, I-Jen began her musical education at age six taking piano lessons. Taking up percussion at the age of nine, she came to the United States at age fifteen to pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Percussion Performance at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas where she served as a teaching fellow.
I-Jen is an Innovative Percussion, Marimba One and Sabian Cymbals artist.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Eric Velez! Eric was also on the Marc Anthony percussion section roundtable episode. Eric is one of the most respected Latino percussionists of his generation. He is of Puerto Rican descent, and was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. Eric learned to play congas, bongos, and timbales at the young age of three with the assistance of his brother. His first musical performance was with Grupo Fascinacion at the age of fifteen. At the age of seventeen, Eric played with Eddie Palmieri and in 1993 made his first recording with Marc Anthony for the movie soundtrack "Carlito'ís Way." In 1996, Eric continued to record under RMM Records with producer Isidro Infante. Eric also traveled with the RMM Band, featuring Tito Puente. In 1997, Eric joined Marc Anthony'ís band and later that year performed for President Clinton'ís 1997 Inaugural Ceremony. A year later, Eric recorded with Celia Cruz. In 1999, Eric joined D.L.G. and also recorded with various artists under record producer Sergio George.
Between 2000 and 2004, Eric performed with Marc Anthony on two tours, several TV shows, including Jay Leno, as well as the HBO Special: Marc Anthony the Concert. In 2005, Eric joined the "Juntos en Concierto Tour" featuring Marc Anthony. Later that year, Eric and his brother, Joe Juicy Jusino recorded a Salsa CD titled, "Juicy and Eric 'ñ Huracan." In 2006, Eric went on another "Juntos en Concierto Tour 2" featuring Marc Anthony. In October, Eric recorded with Marc Anthony for "Marc Anthony in Tenerife." In 2007, Eric continued to play with Marc Anthony and also began playing percussion with Jennifer Lopez and appeared on American Idol and David Letterman. The following year, Drum! Magazine named Eric "Runner-up for Percussion Rising Star."
Happy Birthday to Jon Epcar! Born and raised in Los Angeles, drummer Jon Epcar currently resides in NYC. He has worked with many artists, including Bono, Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Rihanna, Natasha Bedingfield, Carly Rae Jepsen, Klangkarussell, Cristian Castro, Matt Morris, Madison Beer, Katie Melua, Evan Rachel Wood, Jackson Harris, Jesse James, The Ghostwriters, Taryn Manning, Matt & Kim, John Issac Watters, Danielia Cotton. He is a founding member of the band Carney, with whom he toured and recorded with for many years. On Broadway, he originated the drum chairs for Spider-Man and Amelie, and Tina Fey’s Mean Girls, where he is currently drumming.
Happy Birthday to Javier Diaz! Javier is a percussionist with the American Symphony Orchestra and with several chamber music groups and Latin music groups in the New York Area. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, New York Perspectives Ensemble, Zankel Hall New Music Band, and Hilliard Ensemble. He has performed for Broadway's productions of Man of La Mancha, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Brooklyn, Phil Collins’s Tarzan, Guys and Dolls, The Wiz, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Rocky, In The Heights, The Lion King, and Gloria Estefan’s On Your Feet. His studio/film soundtrack credits include collaborations with jazz greats David Sanborn and Marcus Miller, ECM's Tituli by Stephen Hartke with the Hilliard Ensemble, Barbershop 3, several HBO films, and many TV and radio commercials.
As an Afro-Cuban percussion specialist, Diaz has appeared with Miami Sound Machine, David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, Sean Kingston, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patty LaBelle, Lazaro Galarraga's Afro-Cuban All Stars, percussionists Angel Luis Figueroa, Candido Camero, Román Diaz and Pedro Martinez, The Panamerican Jazz Band, The Ethnix, AnetteAguilar’s Latin Jazz Group, Marta Topferova, Edmar Castañeda, Tribal Sage, and the New York World Music Institute. In addition, Diaz has released an album with world music band Kalunga.
An active educator, Diaz has taught classical percussion at El Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela, University of Connecticut, and his private studio in New York City. He has also taught Afro-Cuban percussion seminars, classes, and clinics at the Peabody Institute, University of Southern California, Percussion Artists Workshops Los Angeles/New York, Los Angeles School District, The Juilliard School, the Boston Conservatory, and Mannes School of Music in New York City. Diaz is currently on the percussion faculties at Rutgers University and the Juilliard School. He has a book on Afro-Cuban percussion called The Afro-Cuban
Handbook.
Diaz has composed music for the Aspen Music Festival, New York University, and University of Southern California. His concert music is available through Bachovich Music.
An alumnus of El Sistema de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela and the Aspen Music Festival, Diaz holds a BM from the University of Southern California and an MM from The Juilliard School.
Happy Birthday to Nate Wood! Grammy nominated Nate Wood is a drummer/multi-instrumentalist and mastering engineer based in New York City. Nate is a founding member of the Grammy nominated quintet Kneebody. Kneebody released their self titled debut album in 2005 on trumpeter Dave Douglas’s label Greenleaf Music. In 2007, Kneebody released “Low Electrical Worker” on Colortone Media. They completed an album of arrangements of Charles Ives compositions with singer Theo Bleckmann and released the recording “12 Songs of Charles Ives” which was nominated “Best Classical Crossover Album” Grammy Award (2009, Winter and Winter). Kneebody’s latest record “The Line” was released on Concord Records in 2013.
Nate has also performed or recorded with many notable artists including Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, Dave Grohl, Brian May and Roger Taylor (Queen), Chris Squire (Yes), Elliot Easton (The Cars), Chaka Khan, Wayne Krantz, Billy Childs, Tigran Hamasyan, Donny McCaslin, Sting and many others.
Nate was featured in Modern Drummer in March of 2014, and placed in the 2015 Modern Drummer reader’s poll among the top 5 drummers in his category.
Along with his work as a sideman, Nate has released 3 albums of his own material, where he performed, recorded and mixed everything himself. His newest album “Another Time” was released in July 2014.
Nate also masters records for artists from around the world.
Gig Alerts
Friend of the show, Charles Ruggiero has a live recording for his newest album at the Baked Potato in Los Angeles. You can also check out his other albums and pre-order this one if you cannot make it in person.
Jeffrey Barudin has new job openings posted to his website.
Rush is going back out on tour for 2026 with their new drummer Anika Niles from Germany.
The Clearwater Jazz Holiday festival is happening from October 16th-19th in Clearwater, FL. Friends of the show Pete Antunes and Nêgah Santos will be performing with Tower of Power and Cory Wong respectively.
The Jazz Foundation of America has multiple events going on for the month of October. They also help musicians in need.
The NoLa Funk Fest is happening October 17th-19th in New Orleans, LA. One of the acts performing is Galactic who will also be playing one of the evening concerts at PASIC with the great Stanton Moore on drums as well as friend of the show Bill Summers playing with The Headhunters.
Damon has some new dates for live gigs and clinics at schools coming up. He will be a special guest with friend of the show, Andy Sanesi’s band at the Baked Potato.
Damon and friend of the show, Bryan Carter, will be in the houseband for the Sing Out for Freedom benefit for the NY-ACLU. One of the musical acts is the cast of the Broadway show, Buena Vista Social Club. Friend of the show, Renato Thoms will be playing percussion with them.
Educational Spotlight
Arts Access Miami announces a historic $5.6 million investment from The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation to transform arts education in 100+ schools. -Article
Applications for the the SABIAN – Dom Famularo – SEN (Sabian Education Network) Mentorship Award for 2026 award are NOW OPEN.
Gear Talk
Some speculation about the Apple Music Super Bowl sponsorship and a new forthcoming product.
Iconic Recording
The iconic recording chosen by I-Jen is, “Prism Rhapsody II” with the UNT Wind Symphony, featuring Marimbists Keiko Abe and Mark Ford.
Music News
Here are some grants (listed below in the video) for musicians and music creators.
A music instrument repair shop one of the only remaining publicly funded repair shops for musical instruments in the country. Now, the facility is getting a $1 million dollar donation from legendary musician, producer and philanthropist Herb Alpert, who got his start playing trumpet in this very school district. -Article
Ireland is investing in Music and Arts workers. It is by lottery, and 300 people at a time are selected.
This is the Living Wages for Musicians act in the USA.
Friendly reminder there are less than 35 days until PASIC 50!
I-Jen Fang Interview
The song leading into the interview is, “Crumbs” by Leah Reid and I-Jen Fang, from the album, ‘Flux, Vol. 33’.
Damon recounts when he first saw and met I-Jen during PASIC in 2023 when she performed with Greg Beyer.
I-Jen will be back at PASIC performing as part of the New Music Research, on timpani.
She talks about the Christopher Deane piece.
I-Jen teaches at The University of Virginia.
I-Jen mentions getting a eurhythmics certificate.
You can check out the full schedule for PASIC 50 HERE. I-Jen will be Thursday morning at 9am.
I-Jen is from Taiwan and studied with students of Mr. Ju.
Shout-out to friend of the show, Pei-Ching Wu.
I-Jen started on piano and picked up percussion in third grade. She did a little on oboe, flute, and harp on the side as well.
I-Jen talks about auditioning for percussion in third grade and how intense it was. She also talks about the middle and high school auditions as well.
I-Jen talks about the Yamaha music schools.
I-Jen left Taiwan at age 15 and auditioned (and got accepted to) Carnegie Mellon University. That’s where she got her undergrad from.
She got her masters at Northwestern and studied with Michael Burritt.
She got her doctorate at the University of North Texas.
She mentions the Taiwan International Percussion Convention hosted by the Ju Percussion Group.
I-Jen talks about being scared visiting Baltimore in the late 90’s early 2000’s.
Damon mentions The Wire.
I-Jen talks about the lineage of percussionists at North Texas and also earning her doctorate.
I-Jen also plays in the Charlottesville Symphony.
I-Jen studied with Tim Adams.
Damon and I-Jen talk about being well rounded and employable.
Damon mentions friend of the show Brian Kilgore and “doubling”.
I-Jen was a special guest on episode 1738 of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Damon mentions Mr. Rogers and Johnny Costa.
I-Jen has a viola and percussion duo called the Piedmont Duo with Ayn Balija.
I-Jen talks about the study abroad program with Hungary.
I-Jen picks the iconic recording for the week. Honorable mention to “Sunrise at Angel’s Gate” by Phillip Sparke.
I-Jen uses Marimba One, Innovative Percussion, and Sabian Cymbals.
Shout-out to Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Ed Smith, Michael Burritt, and Hanna Wu Li.
The song leading out of the interview is, “Schrippa: Five Encounters for marimba and viola” performed by the Piedmont Duo.
