Our Performers
Meet the current performers of Athena Percussion’s Debut Concert at PASIC26.
American percussionist Megan Campbell brings together a rare blend of precision-driven rudimental training and a deep commitment to new music. Based in Copenhagen, she has premiered upwards of twenty works for percussion solo and chamber music across the United States, Europe, and China, building a reputation as a performer equally comfortable with demanding contemporary repertoire and collaborative, ensemble-driven projects.
Megan Campbell
Based in Dayton, Ohio, Emma Kieselhorst is internationally renowned for education at every level, along with performing on tour in Japan as percussion soloist in Blast! An alumni of the University of North Texas, Indiana University, The Bluecoats, the Santa Clara Vanguard, and Rhythm X, Emma not only has unparalleled performance experience, but regularly gives back to the community by creating resources and events for young percussionists across the country.
Emma Kieselhorst
Dr. Ksenija Komljenović is a borderless musician whose artistry lives at the intersection of performance, collaboration, composition, and production. Whether premiering a new concerto, singing Balkan folk songs in performances of her own wind band music, reimagining a jazz-rock favorite for her chamber group, or producing a recording, Ksenija is a storyteller.
Ksenija Kolmjenović
Born and raised in Saitama, Japan, Nozomi Hiwatashi is a rising young international artist in the percussion world and is currently living and working in Stuttgart, Germany. Hiwatashi’s ambition and drive for the instrument has achieved her wide recognition in her field and countless awards from various competitions and festivals. These include receiving 1st Prize at the Southern California Marimba Competition in 2021, and 2nd Prize along with Willem Vos Award at the prestigious TROMP International Percussion Competition Eindhoven 2020, Netherlands. Furthermore, in 2019, Hiwatashi was a Semi-Finalist at the 68th International ARD Competition in Munich, Germany. Nozomi is currently Assistant Professor of Percussion at the Hochschule für Musik Saar.
Nozomi Hiwatashi
Genevieve Hilburn is a percussionist and educator based in Southern California. Her performance credits include several national competitions and conventions, including the Modern Snare Drum Competition, hosted by the Cleveland Institute, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Genevieve serves as the percussion applied lessons instructor at Bakersfield College and California State University Bakersfield, in addition to instructing the Glendale Youth Orchestra, the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps, and several high school percussion programs around the greater Los Angeles area.
Genevieve Hillburn
Gwendolyn Dease is currently associate professor of percussion at the Michigan State University College of Music. Dease is passionate about educating the next generation of young musicians. She regularly gives master classes at universities throughout the US and abroad and is currently on the faculty at the Brevard Music Center. She has served on the faculty for the Filarmonica Joven de Colombia and the Interlochen Arts Camp.