Sandbox Percussion Group member, as well as freelancer, percussionist, and educator Jonny Allen stops by to talk about all things Sandbox Percussion, including the beginnings of the band, member responsibility to each other, and getting to teach (03:20), their work with Andy Akiho on Seven Pillars (29:05), Jonny’s work with the American Modern Opera Company (40:45), growing up in Connecticut, his drumset and marching band beginnings, and his sports background (44:55), going to Eastman (NY) for undergrad and studying with Michael Burritt and John H. Beck (54:00), going to Yale (CT) for grad school and studying with Robert Van Sice (01:06:05), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including sections on percussion logistics, problems using Zoom, New Haven pizza, great books and podcasts, New England Patriots Football, and Dutch Minimalism (01:21:30).

Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 Oscars Telecast (01:51:00).

Jonny Allen links:

Jonny’s Sandbox Percussion page

Seven Pillars - Andy Akiho

American Modern Opera Company

Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned:

Victor Caccese in 2019

Ian Rosenbaum in 2025

David Skidmore in 2025

Sean Connors in 2025

Peter Martin in 2025

Robert Dillon in 2025

Todd Meehan in 2017

Megan Arns in 2017

Other links:

NEXUS

So Percussion

Amadinda

Percussions de Strasbourg

Robert van Sice

Bang on a Can

“to wALk Or ruN in wEst harlem” - Andy Akiho

Time Travelers percussion

Michael McQuilken

Matthew Aucoin

“Purple Haze” - Jimi Hendrix Experience

John H. Beck

Michael Burritt

Leigh Howard Stevens

Steve Gadd

Yale Percussion Group

“Third Construction” - John Cage

Modern Apizza

Pepe’s Pizzeria

Sally’s Apizza

BAR New Haven

Catch Me If You Can trailer

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer

The Love Guru trailer

Holes - Louis Sachar

The Three-Body Problem - Liu Cixin

Patriots Unfiltered

Patriots - Seahawks Super Bowl LX

The Telepathy Tapes

Jacob Collier

Cinque terre Italy

Canto Ostinato - Simeon Ten Holt

Raves:

2026 Oscars