Jose Uzcategui

- Monkey Chant by Glenn Kotche

Monkey Chant is a rhythm-driven work inspired in part by Balinese kecak and raya traditions, in which large groups of performers create dense, interlocking rhythmic patterns using voice and body rather than melody. Glenn Kotche translates this communal, ritualistic energy into a solo percussion context.
The piece relies on repetition, groove, and gradual transformation. Rhythms accumulate, shift, and loop back on themselves, creating a hypnotic momentum that feels both playful and primal. Rather than focusing solely on virtuosity, Monkey Chant invites listeners to experience percussion as physical energy and ritual - music that is felt as much as heard.

- In Case of Change by Igor Silva

In Case of Change explores instability - how sounds evolve, break apart, and reappear in new forms. The piece treats change not as an interruption, but as a central musical force.
Silva’s sound world extends beyond traditional percussion to include amplified kalimba, toothbrushes, a milk frother, and live electronics. These unconventional sound sources blur the line between instrument and object, between acoustic and electronic, and between control and unpredictability. Subtle gestures, resonance, and silence play a crucial role, creating a constantly shifting musical landscape that feels fragile, intimate, and in motion.

- Tambour de Pan by Théo Mérigeau

Tambour de Pan takes its name from Pan, the mythological figure associated with nature, wildness, and sound. The work transforms the percussion setup into a theatrical soundscape, where traditional instruments coexist with recycled and everyday materials, such as PVC pipes and plastic containers.
Many of the instruments used in the piece are hand-made by the performer, making each performance site-specific and visually distinctive. Rather than following a traditional musical narrative, the piece unfolds as a series of contrasting sonic scenes - sometimes playful, sometimes mysterious, sometimes chaotic, where gesture, setup, and physical movement are integral to the musical experience.

​​Jose Uzcategui is an emerging solo and chamber percussionist whose high-energy performances and creative programming are redefining the modern percussion landscape. Born in Venezuela and shaped by the renowned El Sistema Nacional de Orquestas, he began his percussion studies at the age of five through La Academia Latinoamericana de Percusión, marking the start of an intensive path into the world of percussion.
Jose is deeply committed to the expansion of the percussion repertoire and regularly collaborates with composers to premiere and commission new works. His programming includes both experimental and virtuosic pieces, from solo maracas to extended-length concertos, bridging contemporary expression with rhythmic tradition. Jose has received top prizes at international competitions, and during the 2026/2027 season, will  collaborate with leading ensembles and orchestras across the Dallas–Fort Worth region and beyond. He is regularly invited as a guest artist for recitals, residencies, and contemporary music festivals in the U.S. and Latin America. Jose Uzcátegui is a TAPS LA Festival Artist and endorses Dragonfly Percussion mallets.