Today we’d like to introduce you to Quincy Doenges.
Hi Quincy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Music has always been an important emphasis in my life and started when I was growing up as a kid. I grew up in a small town of Holland, Michigan. My family wasn’t musically involved, but they knew the importance of music education. Within our extended family, specifically from my Grandpa who originally played saxophone in his own big band, each of his grandkids grew to participate in music in some way, whether on their own or apart of their school band.
I started engaging with music in 3rd grade when I began taking piano lessons. At first, the piano was a tough hobby for me grasp and I lacked the necessary practice that was required to be proficient at the instrument. I practiced for my recitals every year, and worked to finish the method books as my teacher would always promise me a cooked meal of anything I wanted. I am grateful that my musical pathway began with my neighborhood piano teacher, as our relationship was valuable and she helped show me how historical and important music can be. She showed me the value of expression and fundamental elements of music.
I became a percussionist in 6th grade when I began middle school. My previous experience on piano helped exponentially in class and allowed me to thrive. Although, it wasn’t until early high school that something clicked for me musically. Inspiration grew within me, and by 10th grade, I knew that music was exactly what I wanted to pursue in the future. Percussion was now a lifestyle for me, and I felt this breath of fresh air of limitless opportunities and endless learning. I am thankful for my teachers in high school, Eric Peterson and Sue Gainforth, for their never-ending commitment to my growth. Without them, I would have never found my passion for this craft.
Post high school, I went off to Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. This was a big step for me as I went into undergrad with one thing on my mind: PERCUSSION. I moved to a new country where I didn’t know anyone and made a commitment to learn as much as I could. I am forever in debt to my professor at Western, Dr. Jill Ball, who took me under her wing and guided me through my degree. Her lessons she taught me made a profound impact on my life that I value everyday. I was brought into a supportive studio, where I formed some of my best friends; a family that had each others back. During my time in Canada, I was able to explore a plethora of styles of music with lots of different ensembles. Most notably, I performed with a traditional Middle-Eastern ensemble, The Light of East Ensemble, where we performed traditional Arabic, Greek, and Sephardic music. Being able to participate in that specific culture within the community opened my eyes about the role music plays in different communities. Also during my undergrad, I was exposed to larger soloist works and enter myself into multiple competitions. I finished my degree in Music Education with Honors in 2021.
Post-undergrad, I accepted a Graduate Assistantship at Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. Another big change in my life, but this time I knew that with big change always presented new opportunities. At Baylor I met some of the most spectacular musicians and was able to achieve every performance goal I was able to set forth. I was able to meet one of my dearest friends, Max Winningham, and form a new collaboration that was able to bring new music to a diverse community of people through a collaboration called, the Waveform Collective. As well, I was able to learn beneficial life skills as a musician from my professors, Dr. Todd Meehan and Arlo Shultis. Without their guidance during my two years, I would have no direction for my goals, without probable methods to success. Their guidance directed to me to many pathways to success post-graduate school and allowed me to see many avenues within the music industry. They also taught me the importance of community and collaboration, which I work to express everyday and teach my students now. I graduated from Baylor University in 2023 with my Master’s in Percussion Performance.
Post graduation, I moved to the Woodlands, Texas, and accepted a job as an Assistant Percussion Director in Conroe ISD. With the new position, I was able to develop a private lesson studio of 30+ hard working students from grades 5th-12th. I am fortunate enough to have develop a strong studio that focuses on each individual’s goals, while building and sustaining life-long relationships. I strive to be the teacher that my teachers were to me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As any musician would say, its never an easy road. Everyday we are faced with new challenges and hardships that other people don’t experience. Whether its just lack of pay, lack of opportunities, or other competition nearby, something will always get in the way.
For everyone, a tremendous setback was the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. I was going into senior year of undergrad when everything happened. Most musicians had their instruments when they isolated from others, since most instruments are portable. As a percussionist, it threw many things off-course because our instruments are shared with others. Not only did we lose the ability to perform for an audience, most people lost our ability to even practice and express ourselves. I am thankful for my University for taking such safe measures for our school and eventually the percussion community strategized unique ways to keep everyone safe in rehearsal and practice spaces.
When I was in high school and I started to discuss the idea of going to music school and making a career out of music, a lot of teachers and friends gave me questionable looks. Everyone knows that this career path is not easy and there is no “gimmie” to make it easier. For most people, that scares them. The idea that you don’t exactly know what the future will hold, or what job they will end up with post-graduation, is hard for some people to grabble with. Everyone wants security, and a good healthy paycheck. But from day one, I have told myself that I was not going to give up on this profession, even if that means I didn’t know what it was going to result in; this thought has fueled me throughout my development. Sometimes I get underpaid, or unpaid, or I don’t get the gig, but every failure is one more lesson closer to success.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a contemporary percussionist that is centered around collaborations with artists of diverse backgrounds and identities. I emphasize in new music with a wide-array of percussion instruments such as the marimba, vibraphone, and various ethnic and western drums. A lot of my current work is centered around a 1:1 collaboration with composers, developing new works and ideas. I enjoy sharing these works with small audiences in intimate settings.
Being a percussionist is special because the field is still relatively new compared to other instruments. Although drums have been heard all the way back in the medieval times, it was never a standalone instrument in Western music until the early 1900’s. The vibraphone didn’t even exist until the 1920’s! This brings the era of discovery for the field of percussionists where everything can present a new sound or instrument. New mallets are being invented, random objects are used to play the instruments, and more objects placed on the instruments to acoustically alter the sound. As a percussionist, I see empty wine and pasta bottles as an opportunity for a new instrument. The possibilities are endless for us and the art is constantly changing.
Currently, I am working on a new project called, The Taste of Sound, which collaborates with local chefs and restaurants for a unique dinner experience combining food and percussion. Typically we hear music that is directly representative of the food that we are eating, but with The Taste of Sound, I’m experimenting with what unique piece of music could be paired with each dish. I’m currently working with five extremely talented composers from around the country to curate a program of music written directly to pair with a coursed meal. I have a deep connection with this project because of the multiple levels of collaboration during the progress; the collaboration between myself and the chef, myself and the different composers, and the audience being apart of the dinner.
How does a dish make us feel? What emotions does a taste have? How can this be all be represented in percussion? The premiere of The Taste of Sound is set for November in Grand Rapids, MI, and I’ll bringing it to local Houston restaurants in early 2026!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
A lot of my reading solely comes from other percussion expressing their interests and studies. Many other percussionists around the world are doing incredible things to expand and develop the art. I enjoy hearing what other people have learned so I can continue to learn myself. Some resources come from Percussive Notes from Percussion Arts Society, or articles from the Bulletproof Musician.
I also enjoy reading books on mindfulness in music. I believe that reading in this topic has helped me continue doing what I am doing without getting burnt out. It’s interesting to read deeper into what healthy habits we can form in our musical practices, such as performances and practices, to have a deeper connection with ourselves and the audience. When we are able to reframe certain scenarios, maybe one that is frightening, we can approach them in different perspective that is either healthier or more productive. An inspiring book I’ve read recently is, The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, which I would highly recommend to any creative that is looking for insight on how to make art more naturally and fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.quincydoenges.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quincy_doenges
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@quincydoenges9264
Image Credits
Image credit: Joe Moscheck
