Ethos: Performing to its own world beat Percussion ensemble to hold MCA concert

Some musicians are inspired as children to pick up an instrument because they went to a live concert and were changed irrevocably. Yousif Sheronick was inspired by the sound of his mother singing over the drone of the vacuum cleaner. It’s an early memory, but it’s one he knows played a significant role in forming him as an artist.

He also knows the value of the live performer in the imagination of young people. A group of musicians performed at his grade school and he was fascinated in particular by the drummer. “Visually, I thought the performance was stunning,” said Sheronick. “I was one of those kids who couldn’t sit still. It was perfect for me.” He couldn’t wait for the next year of school when he would be old enough to start the music program.

Sheronick went on to play with the school band and the drum corps. And now he is one of four musicians in Ethos Percussion Group, which will perform April 26 at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono.

The ensemble was formed 13 years ago at The Juilliard School in New York City as an outreach program. Originally, the members transcribed classical Western works for percussion. Today, said Sheronick, Ethos plays “world-influenced percussion chamber music.”

Although Ethos employs a variety of drums and drumming techniques from around the world, Sheronick’s specialty is Middle Eastern music and framed drums from diverse cultures. His training at the University of Iowa and Yale University prepared him classically but a trip he took more than 10 years ago to Brazil shifted his interest to world music.

“Percussion in Brazil is so driving,” said Sheronick. “It was really from going to there that I started turning my head away from Western music.”

Moving from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to New York City had a similar effect on the musician, whose childhood was split between a Lebanese family life and American teenage pursuits.

“Kids who grow up in America want to play rock and roll. They don’t want to pay attention to the religious world around them, especially in a place like Cedar Rapids,” said Sheronick, describing his early resistance to learning about his roots. “It wasn’t until I got to an urban environment and saw people celebrating ethnicity that made me feel better about embracing my own background.”

Middle Eastern music, Sheronick said, is closer to his heart than other music he plays. But clearly, his career is fed by a passion that bridges all forms of rhythmic expression.

That is, after all, one of the missions of Ethos. Indeed, the Orono concert will feature guest artists Pandit Samir Chatterjee, one of the leading tabla players of India, and Pandit Ramesh Misra, a master of the sarengi, an Indian string instrument.

The concert also includes the University of Maine Percussion Ensemble that, under the direction of UM professor Stuart Marrs, will collaborate on the world premiere of “See/Change,” a composition by Ethos member Trey Files.

As part of its commitment to work with young people and music students, Ethos will visit Indian Island Community Center on Thursday for an informal drumming session and will offer a percussion clinic Friday on campus.

Sheronick, of course, was the beneficiary years ago of a similar form of outreach. He could have played with a symphonic orchestra or with a rock band. Instead, he decided to follow his own beat.

“I do this because I love it and am drawn to it,” he said. “I have to do it. It’s an inner drive, an inner passion.”

Ethos Percussion Group will perform 8 p.m. April 26 at the Maine Center for the Arts in Orono. For information about the programs or for tickets, call 581-1755.