Annual KoSA International Percussion Workshop, Drum Camp and Festival held a week of intensive learning, sharing and living with world-renown drum and percussion masters July 24-29th, 2012.
Held in the calm and beautiful surroundings of the majestic green mountains
of Vermont, participants came from Mexico, the United Kingdom, the USA and Canada to soak up the
one-of-a kind, hands-on, 360° drum and percussion immersion. KoSA’s theme for 2012, “We love the
drums!” was seen and felt in the daily and nightly musical exchanges.
New this year was the live streaming of evening concerts at the KoSA Music Festival in collaboration
with Drum Channel (www.drumchannel.com). KoSA’s Co-Founders and Directors Aldo Mazza and
partner Dr. Jolán Kovács were thrilled by the numbers and overwhelming response from people around
the world who witnessed the incredible performances. These evening concerts featured KoSA 17's stellar
faculty: Memo Acevedo (Tito Puente), Alex Acuña (Weather Report), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath),
M’Bemba Bangoura with Michael Markus (West African Drumming and Dance), Sergio Bellotti
(Berklee College), Dibyarka Chatterjee(Classical Indian Master), Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock),
Mario DeCiutiis (KAT electronics), Dom Famularo (world drumset ambassador), Hannah Ford
(Pandorum), The Hellcats (West Point Band drumcorps), Corky Laing (Mountain), Arnie Lang (NY
Philharmonic), Aldo Mazza (Répercussion), Allan Molnar (Nelly Furtado), Jim Royle (Steel Pan
ensemble), Jeff Salisbury (University of Vermont), Marcus Santos (Brazilian master drummer/Berklee
College), Glen Velez (four-time Grammy winner), The nightly performances also featured KoSA’s
talented New York City rhythm section: Francesco Beccaro on bass, Bob Quaranta on piano.
Special highlights of the week included KoSA’s co-founder, Dr. Jolán Kovács (McGill University) and
daughter Angelina Mazza performing violin at the KoSA Music Festival accompanying the infectious
beats of Jim Royle’s steel pan ensemble. Corky Laing delivered a memorable session on Sunday with
his detailed recounting of his part of the history of Rock and Rock drumming. Laing was visibly moved
at his session by the surprise presentation, live via Skype®, from Mel Shaw (Founding President of the
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/Executive Producer of the Juno Awards) who
announced that both Corky Laing and Aldo Mazza would be honored as two of the first group of
recipients of ʺCanada’s Recording Legacyʺ.
Continuing a long-standing tradition, KoSA awarded “Lifetime Achievement” awards this year to three
very deserving KoSA Faculty members Mike Clark, Vinny Appice, and Alex Acuña. A fourth award
was presented at the Grand Finale Saturday night concert to Ralph Angelillo in acknowledgement of
Ralph’s 20th year as Artistic Director and Founder of the highly successful Montréal Drumfest.
The KoSA world is continuously in expansion with programs in the U.S., Canada, Cuba, China, and Italy.
For more information on all things KoSA, visit us at www.kosamusic.com. Please “like” us on
facebook www.facebook.com/kosamusic.
Contact: Dr.Jolán Kovács
Phone: (514) 482-5554
info@kosamusic.com
www.kosamusic.com
