Irish percussionist, teacher and composer. Soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, Crash Ensemble member and founder of Bangers and Crash.
Watch
Nagoya Marimbas – Steve Reich
Promotional video for my solo album In Time (RTÉ lyric fm)
Watch
Swerve – Gene Koshinski
Recorded for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, 2021
Watch
Bach, Ravel and Komitas
Bach: Prelude from English Suite No. 2. Ravel: Alborada del gracioso (arranged by Safri Duo). Komitas: Ampel A, an Armenian folk song, with Ioana Petcu-Colan, violin. Recorded during lockdown for Moving On Music's BRB series.
Petcu Colan’s Rising Star performance was memorable no less for the breadth of technique than for the comparable range of emotion, expression and mood.
Petcu and Sherman play with an absolute dedication here, and a sensitivity that is evident even in the most juggernaut moments.
Petcu’s fluency and musicianship are never in doubt.
I watched Alex Petcu as he ran his hand over his drum skins producing what sounded like sea waves breaking on a shore.
Alex Petcu sitting amid a barrage of percussion added brilliant crash, bang, wallop to Thomas Adès’ rich and vivid score.
With overlapping rhythms, this drum solo becomes more and more frenetic as it progresses and has Crash's ambidextrous Alex Petcu no less frenzied.
Album
Alex Petcu: In Time
My solo album, from Steve Reich to Bach and new Irish music. Released on RTÉ lyric fm.
Album
Archetypes
Five works inspired by Jung, commissioned by the Sherman | Petcu duo. Released on Diatribe, with Nathan Sherman (viola).
Album
Totemic
The duo's debut, with Berio's Naturale and three new commissions. Released on Ergodos, with Nathan Sherman (viola).