Percussionist Pedro Fernandez joins the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
INDIANAPOLIS – After a national audition, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Pedro Fernandez to the ISO’s percussion section beginning in 2016. Fernandez fills the vacancy left by Paul Berns, who retired in 2015 after 45 years of service.
Hailing from Panama City, Panama, Fernandez has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician and in orchestral settings across Latin American, the U.S., Spain, China and Japan. He recently served as second percussionist at the Houston Ballet Orchestra. Fernandez has performed with the Cincinnati, Houston, Hawaii, Columbus and Costa Rica symphonies, as well as the Louisville Orchestra and the Florida Grand Opera.
Fernandez has performed with the Grammy-nominated choir, Seraphic Fire, and recorded the percussion tracks on their self-titled album. As a member of the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, he has played alongside artists such as Chick Corea, the Beach Boys, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Feinstein, Terence Blanchard and Dave Gruisin, as well as participated in a PBS special at the Arsht Center in Miami as part of their Jazz Roots series “Jazz at the Philharmonic.”
“I was inspired to play percussion from the Parade Bands of Panama as well as drum parts for songs in a variety of genres,” said Fernandez. “I also remember the first time I really paid attention to classical music, when I heard a recording of The Rite of Spring. Incidentally, that’s one of the first programs I’m playing with the ISO, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Fernandez holds a master’s degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where he studied with Matthew Strauss and Svet Stoyanov. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University where he studied with John Lane.
Click here for Pedro Fernandez’s full bio.
Percussion
Panamanian percussionist Pedro Javier Fernandez has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and in orchestral settings across Latin America, the United States, Spain, China, and Japan. In addition to his position as second percussionist of the Houston Ballet Orchestra, he has performed with the Cincinnati, Houston, Hawai’i, Columbus, and Costa Rica Symphonies; The Louisville Orchestra, Florida Grand Opera, among others. He has also appeared in several occasions as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama.
Pedro has performed with the Grammynominated choir Seraphic Fire recording the percussion tracks on their selftitled album. As a member of the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, Pedro has played alongside artists such as Chick Corea, the Beach Boys, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Feinstein, Terence Blanchard, and Dave Gruisin, as well as participating in a PBS special recorded live at the Arsht Center in Miami as part of their Jazz Roots series “Jazz at the Philharmonic”.
An active chamber musician, Pedro has performed with percussionists Svet Stoyanov and Casey Cangelosi, PULSUS (John Lane, Christopher Deane, Brian Zator), the New World Symphony’s Percussion Consort, the Frost Chamber Players, and the Panama International Guitar Convention. He was also the resident percussionist for the Vivace Woodwind Quintet, and La Camerata Chamber Orchestra in Panama City. Pedro has collaborated and/or premiered pieces by composers Lansing McLoskey, Kyle Gann, Trent Hannah, and Da Jeong Choi in both solo and chamber settings. He has appeared at the Society for ElectroAcustic Music Conference (SEAMUS); Festival Miami; the Galveston (Texas) Historical Foundation Chamber Music Series; the Sam Houston State University Contemporary Music Festival; and the Instrumenta Festival in Oaxaca, Mexico. Pedro’s last solo recital at the National Institute of Music in Panama was broadcasted nationally through the SERTV station.
Pedro holds a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University where he studied with John Lane, and a Master’s degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami where he studied with Matthew Strauss and Svet Stoyanov. He is also an alumnus of the National Repertory Orchestra, the Aspen, Pacific, and Texas Music Festivals.
