“The Cleveland Orchestra’s percussion section is back to full strength,” writes Zachary Lewis in Tuesday’s (9/1) Plain Dealer (Cleveland). “With the appointment of Thomas Sherwood, announced Tuesday, the group brings back to five its number of full-time players of percussion. The fifth slot had been vacant since 2013, following the departure of former principal percussionist Jacob Nissly. At the head of the section now is principal percussionist Marc Damoulakis. Sherwood, longtime principal percussionist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and a core member of the contemporary ensemble Sonic Generator, commences in Cleveland immediately, beginning with concerts this weekend at Blossom Music Center…In terms of title, it might appear Sherwood is taking a step down, from principal to section member. That’s not how Sherwood himself said he views it, however. Rather, after 16 years in Atlanta, the musician said he’s simply less concerned with titles than he is with a change of scenery and fresh artistic circumstances, including a major European tour with director Franz Welser-Most this fall. Besides that, he added, there’s no resisting the allure of an orchestra like Cleveland.” A native of Fairfax, Virginia, Sherwood holds degrees from Temple University and the University of Illinois.
Posted September 2, 2015
