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"The Music of Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, Performed by the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Symphony Chorus" On March 11, 2008, Thunderbird Records released a new recording of works by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. This recording was performed by the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Symphony Chorus, and marks the first time a major American Symphony Orchestra and an American Indian composer have collaborated to record and release orchestral works. Maestro Edwin Outwater served as conductor for both works, the first of which is titled Tracing Mississippi, a concerto for flute and orchestra. The flute soloist was Christine Bailey Davis who originally commissioned the work. From the composer’s notes, “Tracing Mississippi is a remembrance of the old country my family lived in and incorporates traditional songs and dance rhythms, along with American Indian percussion instruments.” Iholba’, written for flute, orchestra and chorus, was originally commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra. Thomas Robertello, flute, and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus join the San Francisco Symphony for the full scale sonic tour-de-force. Iholba’ is performed in the native Chickasaw Language, and is based on a traditional Chickasaw “Garfish Dance Song.” After the premiere of Iholba’, Gail Wein of the Washington Post stated: “Tate’s connection to nature and the human experience was quite apparent in this piece…rarer still is his ability to infuse classical music with American Indian nationalism.” "Jerod Tate and the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra perform at his CD launch in Oklahoma City." The Chickasaw Nation, in recognizing the talent of its citizen Jerod Tate and in keeping with their commitment to the arts, was responsible for the funding of this project. Governor Bill Anoatubby remarks “We are pleased to support Jerod in this phenomenal project. He is an exceptionally talented composer. He has an amazing ability to create unique and beautiful compositions. Jerod has accomplished much. Jerod is a wonderful role model and donates much of his time to working with young people to help them develop their own talents.” Thunderbird Records is the first of its kind, a new music label devoted entirely to American Indian classical music. Founder and producer, Alan Bise, upon recognizing the emotional power of this music, has made it one of his missions to capture this music and present it to the public in the finest manner possible. This recording marks the first of Thunderbird Records in a list of planned projects. San Francisco Symphony with works by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate can be purchased at the Chickasaw Outpost in Ada, OK. Address: 212 S. Broadway Ada, Oklahoma 74820, Phone: 580-332-1458. Jerod Tate's Biography courtesy Chickasaw Nation. Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate was born in 1968 in Norman, Oklahoma and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation. Mr. Tate is dedicated to the development of American Indian classical composition, and his recent review by The Washington Post states that Tate's connection to nature and the human experience was quite apparent in this piece...rarer still is his ability to infuse classical music with American Indian nationalism. This review was a response to his recent performance of Iholba (The Vision), for Solo Flute, Orchestra and Chorus, which was commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and premiered at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 2006, Mr. Tate was the recipient of the Joyce Award which supported the commission of Nitoshi' Imali, Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, premiering in October, 2007, with soloist and GFA winner, Jason Vieaux, and the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, conducted by Cary John Franklin. His new work Chikashsha Poya, for Orchestra and Children's Chorus, commissioned by the American Composers Forum Continental Harmony Project, will celebrate the opening of the new Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma in 2009. Tate received the 2006 Alumni Achievement Award from The Cleveland Institute of Music and has also received awards from Meet the Composer and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. Tate received his BM in Piano Performance from Northwestern University where he studied with Dr. Donald J. Isaak. He then completed his MM in Piano Performance and Composition at The Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Elizabeth Pastor and Dr. Donald Erb. Shortly after beginning his piano studies at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Jerod's first composition, Winter Moons ballet score, was commissioned by Dr. Patricia Tate and premiered at the University of Wyoming in 1992. Colorado Ballet subsequently performed it in 1994 and 1996. After the premiere and tour of Winter Moons, Mr. Tate returned to CIM and added composition to his degree program. Since then, Tate has retained numerous commissions and his works have been performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Colorado Ballet, The New Mexico Symphony, the Contemporary Music Forum, Dale Warland Singers and the Oklahoma City University Wind Philharmonic, to name a few. Dream World Blesses Me, commissioned by the New Jersey Chamber Music Society was premiered in February 1997 at The Jersey City Museum. Performed within an exhibit of artwork by the Salish Indian artist, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, the premiere took place as part of an historic event featuring works of contemporary American Indian composers. Tracing Mississippi, Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, was commissioned by Christine Bailey, principal flutist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and premiered in 2002 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Ron Spigelman. The concerto is dedicated to Jerod's wife, Ursula Running Bear. Mr. Tate is Artistic Director of the Chickasaw Chamber Music Festival. He is Composer-in-Residence for the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy, and was Composer-in-Residence for the Grand Canyon Music Festival's Native American Composer Apprentice Project in 2004 and 2005. He is also currently Composer-in-Residence for The Joyce Foundation/American Composers Forum, teaching composition to American Indian high school students in Minneapolis.