Reviews
Festival review
- After more than 10 years I did returned to Opole last September to
participate of the "18th Drum Festival " . The event was extremely
well organized by Wojtek and Alexander Lasek and all my activities
during the festival went really well.
I was really happy to see how much the percussion scene in Opole has
developed since my last visit, and for sure the festival is helping to
establish the city as one of the percussion centers in Poland. The
format of the festival presenting all the different areas of the
percussion is a very positive aspect, and to have artist from all over
the world makes this festival an especial event for the percussion in
Europe.
The festival is also helping to built and motivate a new generation of
Polish musicians, giving them a unique and worldwide experience in
percussion.
Ney Rosauro, percussionist, composer and educator.
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Back in early October 2008 I got to spend 5 fantastic days in Poland. In Opole to be exact. I was privileged to play at the 17th International Percussion Festival. This was one of THE best run festivals I have ever been involved in. Voytek and all of his amazing crew at RAGTIME really did a first rate job. Being that this was the 17th festival is amazing in itself. I don't know of anything quite like this festival anywhere in the world. 3 different cities all with shows and clinics going on on different days, at different times, with multiple PA's being sent and set up, and all of the different drummers each with there own set up. If there was any problems I sure didn't see any. I did 3 different performances and all of my shows went off perfectly.
The Polish people were all so great. I was treated very very well, I was able to talk and hang out with other amazing professional players that I had never met before, I was able to drink some Polish vodka (good times!!!) and eat some great food, I was able to perform and play my drums, and best of all I was able to get to know some really fantastic people that I would never had had the chance to meet if it wasn't for this festival. So thank you Voytek and everyone at Ragtime! I have memories that will last a lifetime.
All the best, Nick D'Virgilio
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I am grateful that I was invited to be a part of the festival. I thought everything was done very well and it was very well organized. I had a wonderful time and hope to come back again someday.
Chester Thompson
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I had an incredible time at the International Percussion festival in Opole. The musicianship of the students was high and the organizers were top notch - gracious, hospitable, and efficient. I really look forward to returning again soon. There are not many festivals like this and I offer my full support to make sure it keeps going becaus this festival is vitally important to the drum and percussion community.
Terri Lyne Carrington
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'I had the most incredible time performing in clinic and with the Rudess Morgenstein Project at the Ragtime Percussion Festival! I was so moved by the passion everyone displayed towards the music and drumming. I tip my hat to Wojtek for putting on one of the most organized percussion festivals I have ever attended and I very much look forward to the next time I can visit and perform in Poland!
Rod Morgenstein
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I would like to thank the Percussion Festival of Opole for bringing me to Poland for their shows, along with our new group, Stick Men.
We were very impressed by the organization, the professionalism, and the spirit of all the people involved with the promotion. The crews were terrific, allowing us to do the best shows we were able.
The audiences were great too - so we had a wonderful time. It was a great week for us in Poland, and we look forward to coming back again!
Tony Levin / Stick Men
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I just wanted to say on behalf of all us Brits what a great time we had in Poland, and how well everything was organised.! You're all getting very good at this! I thought the concert halls and pianos were very good and it seemed like the people loved the band too.
Well done to you all for all your hard work! Young Polish percussionists should be very grateful, as indeed we all are.
Bill Bruford
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 | The festival was very well arranged and it all went very smooth this was my third time in Opole and it just gets better all the time and Wojtek and his family and friends all work very hard to make what is becoming, a very big event in the year for percussion and it is all happening in opole with the help of some very important people Ing Nationale Nederlanden, Atel Electronics, Clatronic CTC. All of which helped make one of the best percussion festivals of the year.
Carl Palmer |
I would like to give my impressions of The XII th International Percussion Festival held in Opole/Wrocław 7-12.10.2003. You have designed a very unique international percussion festival that covers a very wide spectrum of musicalstyles. Aside from The Percussive Arts International Convention in The states I can't think of another percussion festival that has such a wide variety of music. It is the emphasis on performance rather than just clinics that is truly unique to this festival.
I was also impressed with the organization.There was plenty of support staff, good equipment, good musicians to perform with and a lot of care was given to the small details.
I really enjoyed my experience at The XII th International Percussion Festival and hope to return soon.
Dave Samuels |  |
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Being part of The XII th International Percussion Festival was an awesome experience. This was my first time visiting my ancestral homeland of Poland and it was an honor for me to perform at the festival. The crowds in attendance were very courteous and extremely entthusiastic during my performances. It was also a tremendous experience creating music with The Polish musicians "during the jam session". They were top notch players, very friendly and joy to work with. I had a very pleasant stay and the accomodations weresuperb. I would love to come back to Poland anytime to once again be part of this wonderful event.
Bobby Jarzombek |
...I would like to express my appreciation fr the thoroughly professional, friendly way I have been treated during my stay in Opole. Everything has been managed on time and without any " stress". I wih all musical events were this easy...
Ian Paice (Deep Purple) |  |
| .....my time has always been spend with some very nice people, who have been invilved with The Festival . I have always found it to be very professional.I always make time to come back to The very passionate City, where i have meet some of the nicest people inthe Music Business.
I would like to thank Wojtek Lasek for his time that he has spend making the Festival a great event.
Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Asia) |
...Międzynarodowy Festiwal Perkusyjny był okazją do mojej pierwszej wizyty w Polsce - był świetnie zrealizowany a legendarną gorącą gościnność polską doświadczałem na każdym kroku.
Bill Bruford (King Crimson, Yes, Genesis) |  |
| ...it's always a great pleasure for me to teach and perform at Opole Percussion Festival. The students are open, eager to learn and they ask great questions! Performing at Philharmonic Hall is a dream ...wonderful acoustics and a responsive audience!
Bravo Wojtek Lasek!!!
David Friedman |
.....the festival is a wonderful mixture of classical, jazz , avant-garde, and traditional , serious and humorous expression through the world of percussion. All levels of ability and all areas of interests are encouraged through workshops , competitions and concerts . The vents are very well organized and presented , and housing, transportation and eating requirements are handled graciously and expediently . The dephth of quality and care and effecitive operation at Opole Festival is nothing short of a miracle . I certainly would like to recommand participation at this conference to anyone who wishes to experience an educational , cultural and musical event which will never be forgoten.
Bill Molenhof |  |
| ....everybody who ever organized a Percussion Festival including concerts , workshops and all besidesthis at the same time a percussion competition , will know how difficult it is to keep everything under control. In such country like Poland, where this possibilities exist only a few years now , it is unbelievable achievement . All those brave people of the organization and above all the energy fountain of Art Director Wojciech Lasek, made this festival a remarkable event.
Ruud Wiener |
.....I strongly recommand that citicians and performers from all over the world take part in this fantastic International week of percussion . Wojtek has once again done a great job of producing this event.
Gregg Bissonette |  |
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| .....and wishes you on behalf of the Avedis Zildjian Company all the best!! Also the organisation of the concerts was great, Gregg enjoyed his stay and making this clinic in Opole very much. Honestly, I did not except such a great event , again thank you very much for the super job you are doing for the drummers in Poland.
Yves Tieche - Zildjian |
.... the International Percussion Festival in Opole was a great pleasure for me and I will always remerber those nce days in Opole. The Polish hospitality , as well as the food and whole organisation of The Festival was very good.
Nebojsa Jovan Żivković
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 | ....the music was great, the people and your staff were wonderful and last but not least....Poland is still a fine country.Thank you very much and hope to see once again at the same time, the same music and the same country, You and your organization next year.
Nippy Noya |
...your hospitality has been outstanding and I enjoyed the warm and friendly atmosphere both at The Festival and after hours.
Heinz von Moisy
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| ..... all events were given in a relatively good professional manner.
Ian Turnbull |
....I am very pleased with the organization and the programme of The Festival. I believe that such festivals are particulary useful for the students and should be incouraged.
Prof. Dr Dobri Paliev | |
 | ....I was also impressed with the level of the participants of t5he competition of the percussion ensambles from Poland that took place together with the Festival, and also all the intest that people have demostrated with my clinics and concerts during the Festival.
Ney Rosauro |
...congratulations on having a truly great festival . I was totaly impressed by the festival's lineup , its professionalism and organisation, and a wonderful audience response.
Paul Wertico
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| ...we would like to thank you and other co-organizers of the 7th International Percussion Festival in Opole. Despite the difficult condition of Polish economy the Festival was organized extremely well and we think you did a wonderful job (combining workshops, concerts and percussion competitions into a great music event).
Leon de Laat "Mallet Unit" - a percussion band from Holland |
...as a performer I was impressed by the organization professionalism and a warm welcome given to me by all involved in organizing the Festival. I also wish to thank you for allowing me to be a member of the jury together with the chief European percussionists.
Ryszard Pusz - an Australian pedagogue and percussionist.
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