About – Alex Petcu – Percussionist and teacher

I am an Irish percussionist of Romanian origin, based in Cork, where I am an assistant lecturer in percussion at the MTU Cork School of Music. Most of my work is in new music: I am a core member of Crash Ensemble, musical director of Bangers and Crash Percussion, and half of a long-running duo with violist Nathan Sherman. I also play regularly with orchestras around Ireland, including the National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Irish Chamber Orchestra.

I have commissioned and premiered many new pieces, and my recordings include the solo album In Time (RTÉ lyric fm) and, with Nathan, Totemic (Ergodos) and Archetypes (Diatribe). With Crash Ensemble I have played on most of its albums, including Barry O'Halpin's Wingform, and I am the soloist in Dónal Sarsfield's The Snare Piece on Free State.

I also write for percussion. My pieces include two percussion sextets, premiered at Cork Midsummer Festival and on a tour of Ireland with Bangers and Crash, and the trio Cross | Paths, supported by an Arts Council bursary and Music Network.

I was a semi-finalist at the Tromp International Percussion Competition in 2010 and 2012, was named Irish Freemasons Young Musician of the Year in 2013, and was the National Concert Hall's Rising Star in 2015. Before music took over, I studied physics at University College Cork (BSc and MSc). I also hold an MA in performance from the MTU Cork School of Music.

Teaching and workshops

I am an assistant lecturer in percussion at the MTU Cork School of Music, and teaching is a big part of what I do.

I have also given lecture recitals at universities around Ireland, and workshops for West Cork Music's Tuning Up outreach scheme, Music Network, Music for Galway, the ESB and others.

With Bangers and Crash I also run fun, interactive workshops for schools, for any age group. More about our school workshops.

Ask about a school workshop

“The group showed us a wide variety of percussion instruments and played beautiful sounds and music for us. Percussion instruments were explained and there was direct participation by the children, a lovely time was had by all.”

Presentation Primary School, Bandon

**Outreach workshop with Galway secondary school students**Music for Galway

Six members of Bangers and Crash, holding mallets and laughing, in front of a graffiti wall — Bangers and Crash Percussion. Photo: Darragh Kane

Ensembles

Besides Crash Ensemble and Bangers and Crash Percussion, I play in Stone Drawn Circles, in duos with Nathan Sherman, Deirdre O'Leary and Kelley Lonergan, and as a regular guest with Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble and Evlana Ensemble.

All my ensembles

Composers and commissions

Writing for percussion, or thinking about it? I love working with composers, from first sketches to premiere and recording, on anything from a solo to an orchestral work.

Sam Perkin wrote Waves, for percussion and string orchestra, for me, and I premiered it with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in 2017. With Nathan Sherman, I have commissioned a major work by Kevin Volans, y Escucho a los Muertos con mis Ojos, which we premiered at Music for Galway in 2025, and much of the music on our two albums.

You can find more pieces written for me and my groups on the Solo, Sherman | Petcu duo, Wildwood and Bangers and Crash pages. I have also taken part in many world premieres with Crash Ensemble, Stone Drawn Circles and other ensembles.

You are welcome to try out my instruments, from tuned gongs and marimbas to junk metal and home-made ones. Browse them in the APC Percussion Hire catalogue.

Talk to me about a new piece

For promoters and press

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Biographies and photos

Hiring percussion?

Instruments for concerts, recordings and productions are available from APC Percussion Hire.

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