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, and held in a venue we haven't visited since it was renovated: distinguished percussionist Jordan Ashman, praised for his ability to blend tradition with innovation, comes to fill the stage in what was once an army sports facility, the Old Garrison Gymnasium. 

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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The brick Cavalry Barracks at Colchester were built at Butt Road in 1862-4, to accommodate about 2,500 men, and married quarters were built to the south of the Abbey gardens; the gymnasium was built later on the same site. The building was designed to accommodate between 1000 and 1500 men. Destroyed by arsonists in March 2014, the building was left as a burned out shell before being restored to its present condition. It is now the home of a thriving C3 community church.

PROGRAMME

Alexej Gerassimez Asventuras
Michael Buritt Caritas 3
Alexej Gerassimez Piazonore
Robert Oetomo Fantasy Number 5: As the Snow Falls 

Interval

Mark Glentworth Blues for Gilbert
Cameron Sinclair Automata
Harold Arlen and Robert Oetomo Over the Rainbow
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.

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

Tickets £20 – £35 (£15 for under 30s)