2007 UK Award to Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche

The 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts was presented at Spring Commencement to Wilco drummer and percussionist Glenn Kotche. The College also presented its Community Service Award to Stephanie Richards.

UK Dean reads citation for Stephanie Richards as she looks on.



Glenn Kotche performs during the ceremony.


In a radio interview, Glenn had said he enjoyed looking for new sounds in found objects. The award, a sort of toy drum, is made up of all sorts of found objects, many of them percussive. Opening text of the award runs around the perimeter.



Magnetic hinges open to the sounding box, lined with Ann's marbled paper (primarily in the blues and white of UK). The extensive text, recounting Glenn's many accomplishments, continues on two fold outs attached to the underside of the lids, as shown below:


The central rod is actually a sealed brass tube containing a number of BB's (Glenn's age at the time of the award combined with his lucky number). Combined, they made a much richer sound than either alone, and Glenn was good enough to play along with my request.


The two "drum sticks" --made from wooden knitting needles that I fitted with brass tips (see the next image)--slide out of brass tubes running through the center wall of the drum below the one described above. The wooden ring around the periphery is actually an early embroidery hoop of the kind no longer made, that I'd found among my mother's sewing things. It was well made and had a lovely brass tightening ring (visible at the bottom of the next image), letting it serve as both a fine finishing touch and a stabilizer for the frame of the round drum .


The final touch was an inset of brass screen on the underside of the drum. I'd heard what I thought sounded like a stick run across screen in one of Glenn's solo works. It probably wasn't that, but it contributed to my hope that he would some day actually try "playing" his award. Terribly involved, I know--but every bit of it grew directly from the playfulness with sound that I sensed and wanted to pay tribute to in all of Glenn's work.

Because of scheduling problems, I couldn't be at the ceremony this year. But when Wilco played the Wexner Center at Ohio State in the fall after the award, Glenn thoughtfully provided us with seats, and met me after the concert. Here he greets me; although drenched from the lengthy performance, he was gracious and friendly, and took time to talk a bit before heading off to shower.


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The University of Kentucky Community Service Award for 2007 was given to Stephanie Richards. Protected by a case covered in a beautiful blue washi paper, the award itself also unfolds to show the entire text, telling of her remarkable achievements in her home county as the first Fine Arts Extension Agent in the country--perhaps in the world.