Praised for her “arresting spirit, tonal richness, and razor-sharp ensemble performance” by Fanfare Magazine, Annie Stevens is an active soloist, chamber player, and orchestral musician throughout the U.S. and internationally. Annie’s most recent solo engagements include the UNLV Nextet Concert Series where she worked with composer-in-residence Christopher Cerrone, the Oberlin College Conservatory, and the Northwestern University Summer Percussion Symposium. As a member of the percussion duo, Escape Ten, Annie maintains an active performance calendar, with recent performances including the U.S. premiere of John Psathas’ double concerto, The All-Seeing Sky, with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. The duo has performed as invited guests at the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Festival, Atlanta's coveted Spivey Hall, Orlando’s Steinmetz Hall, the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, the Eastman School of Music, the TCU Percussion Festival, Jacksonville’s Cummer Museum, as well as PASIC for a Keyboard Showcase Concert, and additional recitals on numerous concert series. They have released two albums, Colours of a Groove and Our Favorite Things and have developed their Escape Ten Signature Mallets through Malletech.
As an advocate for new percussion solos and chamber music, Annie has been a part of commissioning over 45 new works for percussion, the most recent commission being Nightingale by Michael Burritt for violin and marimba duo (2025). She also performs in a mixed-instrument quartet, October Sky, whose mission is to actively commission, record, and perform works for tenor, violin, cello, and percussion. Their debut album, October Skies, was released on the MSR Label in 2023.
Annie is the Associate Professor of Percussion at Virginia Tech and the Principal Timpanist of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra where she was recognized as "impeccably responsive" by the Roanoke Times. An advocate for community and student engagement, in the spring of 2025, she was presented the College Award for Outreach Excellence at Virginia Tech. Her primary teachers include Michael Burritt, Alan Abel, She-e Wu, Chip Ross, Bill Cahn, and Tom McGowan, and she holds degrees from Northwestern University (B.M.), Rutgers University (M.M.) and The Eastman School of Music (D.M.A). Annie endorses Malletech, Remo, Blackswamp Percussion, and Dream Cymbals and Gongs. She is the Chapter President for the Percussive Arts Society, Virginia/D.C. Chapter and serves on the PAS University Pedagogy Committee. She lives in Blacksburg, VA with her husband and violinist, John Irrera, and their two young daughters.
As an advocate for new percussion solos and chamber music, Annie has been a part of commissioning over 45 new works for percussion, the most recent commission being Nightingale by Michael Burritt for violin and marimba duo (2025). She also performs in a mixed-instrument quartet, October Sky, whose mission is to actively commission, record, and perform works for tenor, violin, cello, and percussion. Their debut album, October Skies, was released on the MSR Label in 2023.
Annie is the Associate Professor of Percussion at Virginia Tech and the Principal Timpanist of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra where she was recognized as "impeccably responsive" by the Roanoke Times. An advocate for community and student engagement, in the spring of 2025, she was presented the College Award for Outreach Excellence at Virginia Tech. Her primary teachers include Michael Burritt, Alan Abel, She-e Wu, Chip Ross, Bill Cahn, and Tom McGowan, and she holds degrees from Northwestern University (B.M.), Rutgers University (M.M.) and The Eastman School of Music (D.M.A). Annie endorses Malletech, Remo, Blackswamp Percussion, and Dream Cymbals and Gongs. She is the Chapter President for the Percussive Arts Society, Virginia/D.C. Chapter and serves on the PAS University Pedagogy Committee. She lives in Blacksburg, VA with her husband and violinist, John Irrera, and their two young daughters.
|
|
|
|
|