Sandbox Percussion

Grammy-nominated ensemble Sandbox Percussion champions living composers through its unwavering dedication to contemporary chamber music. In 2011, Jonathan Allen, Victor Caccese, Ian Rosenbaum, and Terry Sweeney were brought together by their love of chamber music and the simple joy of playing together; they have since captivated audiences with performances that are both visually and aurally stunning. In 2024, Sandbox Percussion became the first percussion ensemble to be awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. 

The 2021 album "Seven Pillars," featuring Andy Akiho’s title piece, was nominated for two Grammys. Following performances throughout the United States and Europe, Sandbox Percussion performed Seven Pillars in October at the Beijing Music Festival. It also performed the piece at select dates throughout the 2024-25 season.

In the 2024-25 season, Sandbox Percussion and the Tyshawn Sorey Trio collaborated on a special Max Roach tribute with live performances at venues like the 92nd Street Y and the Library of Congress. Together, the two groups explore the extraordinary legacy of jazz pioneer Max Roach, who was born 100 years ago.

Sandbox Percussion teamed up with composer Michael Torke, who created the hourlong piece BLOOM for the group. The world premiere of BLOOM took place in December at Tishman Auditorium at the New School, New York City, following the album release in August via Ecstatic Records.

In October, Sandbox Percussion performs at Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art and collaborates with the London-based Gandini Juggling. Over the season, Sandbox Percussion also performs music by Viet Cuong, Julius Eastman, Gabriel Kahane, Gabriella Smith, Paola Prestini, and Doug Cuomo. 

Sandbox Percussion is the featured ensemble on the soundtrack of The Wild Robot (DreamWorks, 2024), an animated science fiction survival film with music by Kris Bowers. Released in September, it subsequently received three Oscar nominations, including for best score. The first recording of Lifeline, a vibrant percussion quartet composed by Ellis Ludwig-Leone for Sandbox Percussion, was released on the album "Past Life / Lifeline" in December, on Better Company Records. A new album celebrating the group’s long-standing collaboration with Christopher Cerrone was released in February on Pentatone, including the piece Ode to Joy, which the group co-commissioned in 2023. 

Sandbox Percussion holds the positions of ensemble in residence and percussion faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the New School’s College of Performing Arts. Starting in 2024-25, Sandbox Percussion is on faculty at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.