About Us
Pana Percussion Quartet members are Ryun Louie, Alex Stopa, Jeff Crowell, and Eliseo Rael.
At the 49th Annual Pacific-Southwest Emmy Awards Pana Percussion Quartet's performance of Alex Stopa’s original composition, Spiral, received 3 Emmy nominations, winning 2 of these in the categories of ‘Arts and Entertainment’ and ‘Director – Short Form Content.’
The group takes its name from "pana," the Hawaiian musical word for "pulse", and it's repertoire draws from a wide variety of musical genres including classical, jazz, world, rock, Latin, and contemporary music. Each member brings their unique background and individual musical experience to the ensemble which creates an eclectic and engaging listening experience.
Education is a vital goal of the group and each summer the "Pana Percussion Institute" (PPI) is held in the Cleveland area. This camp, open to middle school, high school, and pre-college students, allows Pana Percussion Quartet members the opportunity to share their knowledge with the next generation of percussionists and drummers. Many PPI attendees have gone on to attend top tier music programs and are now performing professionally.
Ryun Louie
Ryun Louie has delighted audiences in venues around the world from the concert hall to the smoky jazz cellars. Ryun was principal timpanist with the South Dakota Symphony and fronts his own jazz group "LOUIE".
He has performed with the Utah Symphony, United States Air Force Heartland of America Band, Utah Chamber Orchestra, the Canadian Brass, Lincoln Symphony, Omaha Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, Parkersburgh Symphony, Butler Symphony, Erie Symphony and the Sounds of Sousa concert band. Ryun has also played with jazz greats Curtis Fuller, Clark Terry, Eddie Daniels, Tom Garvin, Chuck Finley, Dick Oates, Matt Wallis, and Greg Gizbert. Ryun is Percussion Specialist for Medina and Wadsworth School Districts.
Ryun is proud to endorse Crescent Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Erie Drum Company and Evans Drumheads.
Jeff Crowell
Dr. Jeffery Crowell is Professor of Percussion and Jazz at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Before joining the faculty at UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Crowell taught on the faculties of several colleges, including Purdue University. Dr. Crowell received his DMA in percussion performance with a jazz performance/electro-acoustic media emphasis from the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.
A versatile artist in many genres, Dr. Crowell's performance and recording credits include such artists as Bobby Shew, Louie Bellson, David Samuels, Henry Mancini, Joan Rivers, Lou Harrison, Kent Nagano, David Garibaldi, Buddy Baker, Glen Velez, Nebojsa Zivkovic, and John Bergamo. He has performed at the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Green Umbrella Series, marched with the Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, and has taught on the staffs of numerous award-winning groups including the Tournament of Roses Marching Honor Band.
Dr. Crowell is an artist/clinician for Dynasty, Tycoon, Sabian, Remo, Black Swamp Percussion, and Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets.
Alex Stopa
Praised for his “wonderfully creative musical instincts, dazzling technique and high octane stage presence,” Australian-born Alex Stopa is in high demand as a drummer, percussionist, marimba soloist, and clinician.
A highly versatile artist, Dr. Stopa performs regularly as a percussionist and timpanist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Nevada Ballet Theater Orchestra & Nevada Pops Orchestra, and as drummer for Le Reve at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. He has performed with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Amy Grant, Idina Menzel, Placido Domingo, Donny and Marie Osmond, Charo, Evanescence, in productions of “Wicked”, “The Lion King”, “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular”, “Mary Poppins”, “Evita”, “Mamma Mia”, and “The Producers”, and as a percussionist for the Latin Grammys and Dallas Brass.
His teachers include Keiko Abe, Bogdan Bacanu, Dr. Dean Gronemeier, and James Bailey. Alex Stopa endorses Sabian Cymbals, Majestic Percussion instruments, Remo drumheads and Innovative Percussion drumsticks and mallets. His original compositions and arrangements are published by Tapspace music.
Eliseo Rael
Eliseo Rael has forged a dynamic career of creative collaboration as a chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. He currently serves as Coordinator of the Percussion Program at Duquesne University,
As the percussionist of the ensemble IonSound Project, Eliseo performed in such music series as “The Phoenix Concerts” in New York and “Music in a Great Space” in Pittsburgh. He has worked closely with renowned composers such as Joan Tower, David Stock, Michael Gandolfi, and Jeremy Beck. In addition to his work as a chamber musician, Eliseo has performed with many orchestras, including the Pittsburgh Symphony, UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland, and the Wheeling Symphony; performing under conductors James Levine, Kurt Massur, and Manfred Honeck.
Eliseo’s students have won numerous competitions, and have been accepted to some of the country’s top music schools including The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, and University of Michigan.