Jordan Ashman Percussion

Part of the Roman River Festival 2025 - See all concerts here.

"He held the entire room throughout that delicate opening and kept that magic through his whole performance. Jordan combined emotional expression with an easy, assured technique, and moments of brilliance that made all of us catch our breath."    - Anna Lapwood, Judge, BBC Young Musician                                           

A concert unlike any other this year, young percussionist Jordan Ashman, praised for his ability to blend tradition with innovation, comes to fill the stage in Colchester’s much-loved Arts Centre. Solo percussion captivates with its raw intensity, rhythmic complexity, and surprising lyricism. For the classical aficionado, it offers bold sonic exploration beyond traditional melodic confines—visceral, inventive, and deeply expressive.

The programme Jordan has chosen showcases the global and evolving nature of percussion music, blending European, American, and Australasian voices and demonstrating percussion’s international scope. 

Gerassimez’s Asventuras and Piazonore reflect the German composer’s flair for theatrical and virtuosic expression, fusing classical structure with jazz and Latin influences. Buritt’s Caritas 3, part of a trilogy, speaks to emotional and spiritual dimensions, illustrating American contemporary percussion’s introspective turn while the inclusion of Harold Arlen’s iconic 1939 melody—filtered through Oetomo’s contemporary lens—connects modern percussion to earlier American popular music. 

The works subtly engage with issues of identity, memory, and innovation too: Séjourné’s Attraction, with its passionate, almost romantic intensity, stands as a European counterpoint to more rhythmically-driven American works, reflecting cultural dialogues in new music Together, these pieces celebrate the creative freedom and global connectedness that define today’s percussive landscape. The concert pushes the boundaries of timbre and narrative too. Oetomo’s Fantasy Number 5: As the Snow Falls and his arrangement of Over the Rainbow highlight the marimba’s expressive capacity, blending cinematic nostalgia with lyrical sophistication. Glentworth’s Blues for Gilbert, composed in 1984 in memory of vibraphonist Gilbert Webster, bridges jazz and classical idioms, while Sinclair’s Automata explores mechanical precision and human expressivity, possibly referencing contemporary themes of automation and control.

This repertoire reflects percussion’s rise as a solo art form throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Once relegated to the background, percussion has emerged as a medium of deep personal and sonic exploration. 

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Jordan's musical journey began at age seven with a drum kit, expanding into orchestral percussion a year later, after building a 3.5-octave xylophone with his father. In 2022, he gained national acclaim by winning the Grand Final of BBC Young Musician at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. His performance of Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto, in which he played playing instruments ranging from marimba to a car's brake drum, was described by Paul Philbert as "exquisite". He is only the third percussionist to secure this prestigious title since the competition's inception in 1978.​

Currently studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under Toby Kearney, Ashman has been involved with esteemed ensembles such as the National Children's Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra, and serves as the principal percussionist for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain . His accolades include winning the Southern Percussion International Competition's 'most promising' player award in 2021 and the Davison Young Musician's Patron's Award the same year.

His achievements continue to inspire and elevate the profile of percussion in classical music.​

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Tonight's performance opens with a Young Artist Spotlight by 17-year-old Josiah Bolton

Seventeen-year-old Josiah Bolton is only in his first year of studying for the University of Arts London Extended Diploma in Music at Colchester Institute and already forging a reputation in the UK as an exciting drumming prospect, playing with intensity, passion, and a deep sense of musicianship. He has performed with the London Community Gospel Choir and has a growing relationship with many of the greats of the UK Gospel music scene in London and around the UK. 

PROGRAMME

Josiah Bolton | Young Artist Spotlight

Alexej Gerassimez Asventuras
Mark Glentworth Blues for Gilbert
Michael Buritt Caritas 2
Michael Buritt Caritas 3

Interval

Harold Arlen and Robert Oetomo Over the Rainbow
Astor Piazolla and Pius Cheung Verano poreño
Claudio Santangelo Carillon d'amour
Cameron Sinclair Automata
Robert Oetomo Fantasy Number 5: As the Snow Falls
Emmanuel Sejourne Attraction

Duration: approx. 1 hour 45 mins (incl. 20-minute interval)

Planning: Doors open from 7.30 for an 8pm start. Please allow ample time for parking. We advise using St Mary's Multi-storey carpark on Balkan Hill and crossing the footbridge - it's a 5 minute walk and on the level. It is possible to drive up to the Arts Centre to drop off anyone who doesn't want to walk far - please be aware it's a cul-de-sac so will require a manoeuvre/reverse driving to leave again!

Jordan Ashman | Snare drum, marimba, vibraphone, multi percussion

Tickets £20 – £35 (£15 for under 30s)

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Colchester Arts Centre, located in a historic former church, is a key local venue for live music, theater, film, and exhibitions. Under the direction of Ant Roberts for over 20 years, it hosts diverse cultural events, offering a platform for emerging and established artists and contributing massively to the local creative community.