Dr. Cory Fica
Assistant Professor of Music/Percussion
BIOGRAPHY
Fica is a member of the Epoch Percussion Quartet, a group that was formed while studying
at the University of Texas at Austin with classmates Dr. Andrew Lynge, Dr. Oni Lara
and Nigel Fernandez. Epoch has over a dozen performances as concerti soloists with
some of the premier collegiate and professional wind ensembles throughout the United
States. With Epoch, Fica has been a concerto soloist with groups such as the Dallas
Winds (2017/2019/2021/2023), University of Texas Wind Ensemble (2017/2019/2023), University of Alabama Wind Ensemble (2020/2023), Interlochen Arts Academy Wind Ensemble (2017), Columbus State University Wind Ensemble (2023) and Kennesaw State University Wind Ensemble (2023). Their concerti repertoire has included Invisible Cities by Dinuk Wijeratne, Re(new)al by Viet Cuong, and Orbital by John Psathas. In early 2023, Epoch premiered the wind ensemble arrangement of John
Psathas’ electroacoustic concerto, Orbital, with the Dallas Winds and University of Texas Wind Ensemble. Tim Divanni, from The
Dallas Morning News stated, “The Epoch Percussion Quartet, made up of Cory Fica, Nigel Fernandez, Oni Lara and
Andrew Lynge, combined rhythmic precision with nonstop energy.” Most recently, Epoch were artists-in-residence at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts,
performing Cuong’s Re(new)al at the Smith Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As a soloist, Fica was awarded 2nd Place Winner of the 2018 International Percussion
Institute (IPI) Marimba Competition in Aberdeen, Scotland, and was awarded 3rd Place
at the 2017 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) Solo Artist Competition.
While a student, Fica has also performed showcase concerts with the University of
South Carolina Percussion Ensemble and University of Texas Percussion Ensemble at
the 2012 PASIC and 2016 PASIC, respectively.
Prior to living in Miami, Fica was a freelance performer, studio musician and educator
in the Austin, Texas area and played in a variety of ensembles that ranged from orchestral
and contemporary chamber music to pop and rock. Fica was a member of ensembles such
as the Central Texas Philharmonic (Principal Timpanist), Hear No Evil contemporary music ensemble, frequent collaborator for Tetractys new
music collective, and was a drummer for many local songwriters and rock bands in the
Austin music scene. As an educator, Fica taught at Round Rock High School and from
2017-2021. Here, he taught private lessons, assisted with the percussion ensemble,
and was a front ensemble instructor for the award-winning Round Rock High School Marching
Band. During his time at Round Rock HS, the marching band were finalists at the 2017
and 2019 Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championship, as well as the 2019 BOA
San Antonio Regional Finalists.
In Miami, Fica frequently performs as a percussionist for Nu Deco Ensemble. With Nu
Deco, Fica has performed on concerts that have featured artists such as Robert Glasper,
Wyclef Jean and Madison Cunningham, Andrew Bird, among others. Fica has also performed
as a substitute percussionist for the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. Most notably,
Fica performed on Michael Tilson Thomas’ final concert as New World Symphony Artistic
Director in 2022. Fica is also a member of Miambloco, a community ensemble honoring
the musical traditions of Brazil, Miami and beyond. Within Miamibloco, Fica plays
tamborim with the Bateria Saideira. Fica is on music faculty for the Georgia Governor’s
Honors Program (GHP), a four-week academic intensive in the summer for gifted high
school students, who are selected through a rigorous selection process.
Fica recently completed his doctoral degree (D.M.A.) at the University of Miami Frost
School of Music. He also holds degrees from The University of Texas at Austin (M.M.)
and The University of South Carolina (B.M.). His teachers include Svetoslav Stoyanov,
Joseph Petrasek, Dr. Thomas Burritt, Tony Edwards and Dr. Scott Herring.
EDUCATION HISTORY
- DMA University of Miami Frost School of Music
- MM University of Texas at Austin
- BM University of South Carolina
