FORMA ENSEMBLE is an Australian percussion collective creating, performing, and collaborating on new and experimental music. Founded and directed by Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, former Artistic Director of Synergy Percussion, FORMA is dedicated to celebrating contemporary music through the medium of percussion. The collective focuses on commissioning new works that push the boundaries of percussion practice and explore innovative approaches to musical curation, while also embracing improvisation as a vital part of its artistic identity.

FORMA ENSEMBLE will debut at Phoenix Central Park with a performance of Michael Gordon’s Timber — a powerful, meditative, hour-long work for six percussionists. Scored for six wooden planks and adapted by Gordon from elements of the Eastern Orthodox liturgy, Timber is a masterwork of rhythmic precision, sonic richness, and physical endurance. The natural resonance of the wood produces waves of overtones and shifting textures, drawing listeners into an ever-evolving sound world that involves rhythmic cycles that phase in and out, with focus moving seamlessly between players, patterns, and timbral layers. Originally premiered in 2011 by Slagwerk Den Haag, the work has since been performed over 150 times in more than 20 countries. This rare, immersive performance marks the start of FORMA’s mission to present boundary-pushing percussion experiences to Australian audiences — and is a concert not to be missed.