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Global rhythms meet prairie beats: Space Between IV comes to Winnipeg
U of M to host national percussion gathering Aug. 8–10
From August 8 to 10, Winnipeg will resound with rhythm as the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music hosts The Space Between IV—the latest installment of a growing national gathering dedicated to percussion performance, education, and research. Presented in collaboration with the Canadian Percussion Network and organized locally by percussionist and U of M instructor Victoria Sparks, the event brings together percussionists from across Canada and beyond for three jam-packed days of concerts, lectures, and collaboration.
“The Space Between really is meant to be this idea of exploring performance and research,” said Sparks,“Because we often talk about, you know, ‘I’m a percussionist, I play percussion instruments,’ or ‘I’m a researcher, I’m looking into the acoustic properties of the way that triangles function.’ And we have a guy who’s working on that!”
A pandemic-born network still going strong
The Canadian Percussion Network (CPN), which leads the initiative, was born out of necessity during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In the days of the pandemic, there was some kind of discussion going around some of the percussion teachers in the country,” Sparks recalled. “What are we going to do? How are we going to teach this virtual thing? How are you all surviving?”
What began as a series of informal Zoom chats soon blossomed into a support system and knowledge-sharing platform for percussion educators across Canada.
“It can feel isolating at times,” said Sparks. “And so to find out that there were all these people across the country doing the same thing, but we never really had just established a way to stay in touch and to connect... the network became a real kind of lifeline.”
Since its inception, the Space Between series has travelled from McMaster University to McGill and then to Nova Scotia’s Acadia University. Winnipeg now becomes the fourth host city in the rotation.
Research, performance, and one giant marimba
The upcoming edition in Winnipeg is shaping up to be the most dynamic yet. The lineup includes everything from academic presentations and lecture-demonstrations to student recitals and keynote concerts.
Among the more eye-popping research projects is a new instrument being developed by Saskatchewan’s Jim McCarthy—Canada’s only marimba maker.
“He’s building a contrabass marimba, which doesn’t exist in the world,” Sparks explained. “The lowest bars are like a metre tall—they’re huge. And he’s had to build an individual resonator for each individual bar that will then be configured together... it’s really exciting.”
Also appearing is percussionist Beverley Johnston, an Order of Canada recipient, who will give a keynote performance. Concerts will also feature tabla virtuoso Shawn Mativetsky, the legendary Sixtrum percussion ensemble, and even a new work by Manitoba composer Aaron Sandry.
Free, open to all, and deeply collaborative
Sparks emphasized that the entire event is open to the public—and free.
“You can come for a few sessions, you can come for the whole shebang,” she said. “It is thankfully supported by SSHRC [Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council] and the Desautels Faculty of Music.”
Those interested in attending can register via Eventbrite through the Canadian Percussion Network’s website (perknnet.ca), with walk-ups also welcome.
“There’s a little something for everybody,” Sparks said. “We’ve got a whole session on drum set topics, performances, world music, health and wellness, and pedagogy. We’re even doing a kind of five-to-seven open rehearsal with the Canadian Percussion Network Orchestra, so people can just show up and play. We’ll probably find a shaker for you.”
Youth spotlight and global sounds
The festival will kick off with a double-bill concert featuring the Heartland Marimba Quartet and the final concert from Sparks’ own youth percussion camp.
“I thought, what a fun thing if the kickoff event of the Canadian Percussion Network conference is the final concert of the camp. So the kids are the kind of the grand premiere of the conference,” Sparks said proudly.
Student participation is central to the event’s success. “One of the things that we’ve really felt has been a real success of all these events has been seeing the student groups returning,” she said. “And I have a group of my own students who applied on their own to play a trio. I have another student presenting on hyperacusis... so as a proud mama hen, I have to shout out to my own babies.”
Celebrating diversity in percussion
Much of the programming celebrates the global roots of percussion.
“I don’t know that there’s anything that we play that doesn’t come from some culture in the world,” Sparks observed. “You’d be hard pressed to find a culture that doesn’t have some type of a small frame drum with some kind of rattly, jingly thing attached to it.”
Workshops will include Arabic rhythms adapted for drum kit, tabla-synthesizer fusions, and lectures on integrating world music into classical and academic contexts.
“We obsessively collect sounds and ideas from around the world,” said Sparks. “Finding ways to develop our own technique as we get used to the different ways of playing... and then figuring out how to notate those techniques.”
No vendors—just percussion love
Unlike some music conferences, the event is deliberately low on commercial presence.
“We haven’t had a whole lot of vendors,” said Sparks. “We’re sticking with the drum love at the moment.”
Still, major support has come from Yamaha, which is helping to make the event possible.
How to attend
The Space Between IV runs August 8 to 10, 2025 at the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. Full details and registration links can be found at perknnet.ca, with updates available via the Canadian Percussion Network’s Instagram (@canperknet).
As Sparks summed it up: “This is a public event. All are welcome. Come, listen, learn, play—and fall in love with percussion.”
Whether you're a seasoned percussionist, an eager student, or simply percussion-curious, The Space Between IV offers a rare chance to experience the full spectrum of rhythm in all its global, innovative, and deeply collaborative glory. With world-class performances, cutting-edge research, and a welcoming, community-driven spirit—plus free admission—it’s more than a conference; it’s a celebration of sound. Don’t miss your chance to hear, learn, and even play alongside some of the brightest percussion minds in the country this August in Winnipeg.