EVELYN GLENNIE gives more than 100 performances a year all over the world to universal critical acclaim from the toughest of reviewers in many of the world's most esteemed publications. She has performed with virtually all of the world's finest orchestras and greatest conductors in the most famous concert halls, but to list individually all of her awards and achievements is not only impossible but a pointless exercise. For the first ten years of her career virtually every performance Glennie gave was in some way a first.

What takes Glennie a step beyond the ranks of the elite is that she combines her superb technical abilities, a profound appreciation of the visual elements of percussion along with her astonishing musicality to create performances of such stunning vitality that they almost constitute a new type of performance. To this end she has commissioned over ninety new works for solo percussion from many of the world's most talented composers. Despite all the advice to the contrary, she is not only the first person to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist in the history of classical music but is redefining the goals and expectations of percussion students, orchestras, concert promoters and the general public the world over.

Glennie's recording career has been as illustrious as her performing career. Her first CD, a recording of Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion won her a Grammy in 1988. Rather than an ambition achieved, winning the most highly regarded recording prize in the world was only the first step for her. Subsequent solo recordings have earned a further two Grammy nominations, a Classic CD Award and great critical acclaim. Glennie's twelfth solo CD, Shadow Behind the Iron Sun (BMG Records) was based on a radical concept and has once again questioned people's expectations. Her thirteenth and most recent disc, African Sunrise/Manhattan Rave, was released in late 2000.

Outside of actual performance Glennie excels in everything to which she turns her hand. From writing a best-selling autobiography, Good Vibrations, to hosting two series of her own television programs for the BBC. More recently, Evelyn has teamed up with Greg Malcangi, to compose, record and produce music for film and television. Their first high quality drama produced a score so original they were nominated for a British Academy of Film and Television Arts award; the UK equivalent of the Oscars.