Dover grad wins Grammy
DOVER – A Dover High School graduate won a Grammy this past weekend.
Josh Quillen, 45, a 1998 Dover grad, won the award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance as part of the group ‘So Percussion’ for their album “Rectangles and Circumstance” with five-time Grammy winning singer-composer Caroline Shaw.
“Just to be in the same category as [19-time Grammy winner] Yo-Yo Ma is kind of bonkers to me,” Quillen said. “I grew up following that man and everything he did, so it’s very surreal.”
Quillen lives in Yardley, Pa., and So Percussion is the ensemble in residence at Princeton University. He is grateful for the music and arts education he received in the Dover school system, singling out longtime band director Steve Stroup and Joan Wenzel.
“Joan was my first teacher in fifth grade, and it goes without saying that I wouldn’t be sitting here if I didn’t have that kind, generous teaching from the jump.”
Quillen encourages others to follow their dreams in music and arts.
“You don’t get a Grammy for doing things that other people think you should do. Just keep on working on the things you really believe in and are passionate about, any maybe you’ll win one, maybe you won’t. It’s really OK either way. I’m just very grateful that the Grammies saw the work that we did with So Percussion and Caroline Shaw as something worthy.”
Quillen still influences the Dover High School music scene. He arranged some of the steel drum band’s more popular songs, including “Amazing Grace” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The steel drum band performs on Sunday, February 16th, at its annual Pantasia concert at Dover High School.
Quillen is coming back to the area in June for the Tuscarawas Philharmonic percussion camp with Wentzel and teach the steel band a new tune.
“I’m just grateful to be in the mix at all, to be quite honest, because it started for me as a student. It was just a class I took, and it was normal and that’s what everybody did. Then I go to college and realize not everybody had those same opportunities that I had. I’m very lucky.”