Glennie, Evelyn (1965–)

Scottish percussionist. Born July 19, 1965, in Aberdeen, Scotland; studied timpani and percussion; attended Royal Academy of Music, 1982–85, graduating at 19; studied marimba with Keiko Abe; m. Greg Malcangi (recording engineer), 1994.

One of the world's top international concert and recording musicians and the 1st full-time solo percussionist, played clarinet and piano at 8, though she was already starting to lose her hearing as result of a neurological disorder; at 12, became 80% deaf; learned to feel vibrations of notes, and to distinguish between them with help of different areas of sensitivity throughout body; though fitted with a hearing aid, discarded it, claiming aid "distorted sound"; as a solo percussion artist, had rapid success, winning Grammy for 1st CD, a recording of Bartok's Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion (1989) and again for collaboration with Bela Fleck (2002); has made over 11 other recordings including Rhythm Song (1990), Shadow Behind the Iron Sun (2000) and Oriental Landscapes (2002); travels worldwide, giving critically acclaimed concerts which include over 50 instruments; performs as soloist with symphony orchestras as well; also plays on non-traditional instruments such as kitchen utensils used in piece My Dream Kitchen, written for Glennie by composer Django Bates; has commissioned over 130 additional pieces of music from leading composers; serves as president of Beethoven Fund which provides music-based treatment for hearing-impaired children; co-authored music book series Beat It; debuted with New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center and collaborated with film director Thomas Riedelsheimer on Touch the Sound, which won "Critic's Prize" at Locarno International Film Festival (2004). Named Scot of the Year (1982) and Scot's Woman of the Decade (1990); received Hugh Fitz Prize for Percussion (1983), Leonardo Da Vinci Prize (1987); became a fellow of Royal Academy of Music (1992); made Officer of the British Empire (OBE, 1993); received Classic CD Award for Veni, Veni, Emmanuel recording (1993), Percussionist of the Year Award (1998), Grammy for Best Classical Crossover Album, Perpetual Motion (2002) and Mark Hatfield Leadership Award for Outstanding Services to Deaf Children (2003).

See also Evelyn Glennie, Good Vibrations (Hutchinson, 1991).