On June 25th, Rancho Palos Verdes residents, Dr. Joe and Kath Anderson hosted a stunning house concert next to the California coast. Over 77 guests from all around the USA attended “TAPS Take 2” and enjoyed an incredible evening of music presented by Switzer Learning Center students, musicians from Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, and eight elite collegiate percussionists studying at Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar (TAPS).
As lovers of music and avid supporters of the arts, the Anderson family generously offered their home as a concert venue. This concert marked the ninth year of TAPS programming, and TAPS faculty and administration were beyond grateful for the support of the Andersons and the Rancho Palos Verdes community members who came to support TAPS at the concert.
After they were served hors d’oeuvres and drinks prepared by a chef, guests eagerly gathered to listen to captivating works by Gershwin, Bach, Kreisler, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and more! “TAPS Take 2” featured a wide array of music, from jazzy xylophone rags to West African Drumming to contemporary percussion works featuring the sounds of glass bottles and pitched metal pipes.
TAPS also continued its annual outreach program by working with the Switzer Learning Center. Throughout June, TAPS Faculty Artists and collegiate students provided a series of free percussion masterclasses to the Switzer Learning Center students. At this house concert, Switzer Learning Center students performed three West African pieces; this performance was the perfect finale to the TAPS outreach program in June.
As the evening came to a close, guests had the chance to personally meet the performers and jam with performers to well-known tunes in an informal, intimate setting. This night was truly one to remember, as each guest left inspired by music and touched by the tight-knit, generous community in Rancho Palos Verdes.