Biography
COPUS is a world music band that combines powerful poetics with lyrical melodies and strong beats.
HIGHLIGHTS ...
• Composer/pianist WENDY LOOMIS has received the ASCAP award for composition for the past 2 years. Wendy Loomis earned her master's degree from Syracuse University, her bachelor's degree from Denison University.
• In 2008 COPUS performed at the Sweet Auburn Springfest in Atlanta where thousands of attendees gather in the streets for great music and poetry.
• Other highlights from 2008 include the collaboration with the gospel choir at the Phillips CME Temple in Berkeley, the worldwide webcast (see footage on Video Page) featuring guest artist singer Barbara Jaspersen, and the 'Art for Art's Sake' multimedia show in the Trinity Chamber Arts series.
• In September 2007 COPUS premiered 'The Elements - A World Rhythm Jazz Opera' featuring music, spoken word, dance, and video as part of the Unite Africa Now worldwide festival.
• In 2006 COPUS was a semi-finalist in the Emergenza international band competition. Started 15 years ago in Italy, Emergenza is a festival that promotes the ‘greatest unsigned bands in the world’.
• Poet ROYAL KENT has opened for musical luminaries PETER TOSH, STEEL PULSE, THE WAILERS and TOOTS + THE MAYTALS.
• Flutist MONICA WILLIAMS is a graduate of Eastman School of Music and has performed with orchestras in Chicago, Rochester, and Cincinnati.
• Percussionist RICK CAMPBELL recently joined COPUS - bringing his extensive performing and recording experience in the U.S. and France to the table. He toured with The Funkanauts, The Motivators, Native Elements, and the George Coates Ensemble, to name a few.
• Bass player PATRICK MAHON is primarily self-taught. His influences include Charles Mingus, Les Claypool, and Marcus Miller. Patrick has performed and recorded with COPUS since 2007.
• COPUS has played festivals, colleges, theatres, art galleries, clubs in San Francisco, London, Los Angeles, and Nashville.
• Debut CD, ‘Later Than You Think’, was nominated for Spoken Word Album of the Year by MusicDish.com writer Michael Allison (see Press page).
• Six websites draw thousands of hits per month from over 60 countries: www.copusmusic.com, www.copusmusic.net , www.sonicbids.com/copus , www.myspace.com/copusmusic , www.youtube.com/copusmultimedia, www.cafepress.com/copusmusic and www.wendyloomis.com.
• COPUS produced “Poets + Composers”, an original Internet radio show featuring interviews with and live performances by Bay Area artists, was ‘aired’ at artistfirst.com and drew in listeners from around the world. Podcasts can be heard on the COPUS website.
• COPUS has led numerous workshops at high schools, universities, and nonprofit programs in the writing of poetry with music.
Instrumentation
Royal Kent (poet/spoken word artist)
Wendy Loomis (composer/pianist)
Monica Williams (flute)
Patrick Mahon (electric bass)
Rick Campbell (percussion)
Discography
CDs RELEASED: 'Jah Provide' (trilogy)
'The Fool' (single)
'Later Than You Think' (debut CD)
CDs and individual song downloads available at CopusMusic.com and iTunes.com.
Links
| http://www.copusmusic.com |