Episode 9: Earl Yowell

TAMS Percussion Podcast

Joining Michael, Sky and Sui Lin today on Episode Nine of the TAMS Percussion Podcast is Earl Yowell!

Earl Yowell was the Professor of Percussion Studies at Shenandoah Conservatory from 2007-2021. In addition to teaching during his time at Shenandoah, he has also been a featured soloist with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.

Prior to his appointment at Shenandoah, he performed for 20 seasons as the principal timpanist and percussionist of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He toured extensively with the SPCO throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He was a featured soloist with internationally famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie in the SPCO performances of Andrzej Panufnik’s “Concertino for Timpani, Percussion and Strings” and was timpani soloist in the Chamber Orchestra’s premier performances of Johann Carl Christian Fischer’s “Symphony for Eight Obbligato Timpani.” In 2006 and 2007 he has appeared as a Chamber music soloist with the SPCO. His performance of Marta Ptaszynskas multiple percussion solo Spiderwalk in 2007 received both audience and critical acclaim. He was also a regular performer with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota where in 2001 he premiered, with cellist Yo Yo Ma, a concert of new chamber music works. The making of this concert was the subject of a PBS television production. In addition to participating in numerous recordings with the SPCO. Yowell has also played on two Grammy A ward-winning albums: “The Art of Arleen Auger” and Samuel Barber’s ”Antony and Cleopatra.” He has appeared on Minnesota Public Radio’s “Saint Paul Sunday” and “Prairie Home Companion” programs.

More recently in 2010, he was a guest clinician for the Atlanta International Timpani Seminar. In 2011, Yowell was invited to be a guest artist at the 9th International Patagonia Percussion festival in Argentina. He was also in 2011 a featured Timpani clinician at the 50th Anniversary International Percussive Arts Society Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2012, Yowell served as a judge for the Mock Percussion Audition at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

While teaching he has also maintained an active performing schedule. Performing solo and chamber works and with orchestras. He performed as timpanist with the Atlanta Symphony in 2008 and 2011 and percussionist with the Maryland Symphony 2009. In 2010 he also performed with the internationally acclaimed percussion group, Nexus. In the fall of 2008, he performed the world premiere of William Cahn’s “Night Ride for Timpani and Orchestra.” Additionally, in 2008 he co-founded the Ear Candy Contemporary Music Series. He also served on the Symphonic Committee of the Percussive Arts Society.

More modernly, you can find Earl Yowell working on crafting timpani mallets and writing new music for percussion solos and ensembles!

You can help us over at TAMS by following us on Instagram @tamspercpodcast and ask any questions you wish via email @ [e-mail]