Join Multi-GRAMMY® nominee and Mannes composition faculty Christopher Cerrone and Ensemble-in-Residence Sandbox Percussion for an evening of performance, discussion, and discovery centered on Cerrone's album, Don’t Look Down (2020). This profound work chronicles a decade-long journey through sound, collaboration, and innovation, reflecting his deep connection and friendship with Sandbox Percussion.

The program includes Don’t Look Down (2020), featuring pianist Conor Hanick, a piece that blends traditional percussion with found objects and prepared piano. When premiered by Sandbox Percussion and Hanick, the work was described as “exhilarating” by The New York Times.

Cerrone’s A Natural History of Vacant Lots (2017) explores space and sound, juxtaposing ambient beauty with a haunting electronic backdrop. Goldbeater’s Skin (2016), pairs percussion with the human voice in a stunning setting of GC Waldrep’s poetry, featuring mezzo-soprano Elspeth Davis.

The evening also includes Ode to Joy (2023), a bittersweet celebration of New York City, filled with whistles, harmonicas, and stomping rhythms—every sound meticulously crafted in collaboration with longtime producer Mike Tierney.

This event is a bold exploration of the endless possibilities of percussion and a testament to the evolving power of music and collaboration. Not to be missed—join us for an unforgettable evening!

Program  All pieces composed by Christopher Cerrone (b. 1984)

Don’t Look Down: I. Hammerspace (2020)

Conor Hanick, piano

Goldbeater’s Skin: II. Interlude 1 - Wood (2016)

A Natural History of Vacant Lots (2017 - 2018)

Video created by Jonathan Maurer
Movement performed by Montay Romero

– Conversation – 

(featuring Richard Kessler, Christopher Cerrone, and Ian Rosenbaum)

Goldbeater’s Skin: IV. Interlude 2 - Metal (2016)

Ode to Joy (2023)

Memory Palace: V. Claremont (2016)

Click here to watch the livestream

“Over the years, I’ve composed multiple works for percussion quartet, all of which Sandbox has either premiered or performed. What draws me to this formation is its inherent freedom—unlike a string quartet or wind quintet, a “percussion quartet” implies little beyond four trained percussionists. The possibilities are boundless.”

– Christopher Cerrone

“This collection is a testament to nearly 20 years of friendship between Christopher Cerrone and the four of us in Sandbox Percussion. Chris and I met in school in 2005, and I was instantly drawn to his music. Chris has a way of expressing emotion in his work that I had never experienced before, and I was struck by the honesty in Chris’s writing”

– Ian Rosenbaum, Sandbox Percussion

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER CERRONE

Christopher Cerrone (b. 1984, New York) is internationally acclaimed for his compositions. His work is characterized by a subtle handling of timbre and resonance, a deep literary fluency, and a flair for multimedia collaborations. Cerrone’s music balances lushness and austerity, immersive textures and telling details, dramatic impact and interiority. His three-time GRAMMY®-nominated compositions are utterly compelling and uniquely his own.

ABOUT SANDBOX PERCUSSION

Described as “exhilarating” by The New York Times and “utterly mesmerizing” by The Guardian, the GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble Sandbox Percussion champions living composers through its unwavering dedication to contemporary chamber music. In 2011, Jonathan Allen, Victor Caccese, Ian Rosenbaum, and Terry Sweeney were brought together by their love of chamber music and the simple joy of playing together; they have since captivated audiences with performances that are both visually and aurally stunning. In 2024, Sandbox Percussion became the first percussion ensemble to be awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.