UA Little Rock to Host Weekend Featuring Percussion Ensemble Concert, Percussion Day
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Percussion Ensemble and Trojan Steel Band will host a concert, which is free and open to the public, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Building on the UA Little Rock campus.
The Spring Percussion Concert will include performances by the Percussion Ensemble with special guests Dr. Andy Smith of the University of Texas at El Paso and Blue Line Duo (Justin and Cassie Bunting).
The Percussion Ensemble will perform “Get Hyped!” by Angela Kepley, “Shell” by Emma O’Halloran, “Kibo” by Andrea Venet with Dr. Smith as a guest soloist, “Vertical River” by Blake Tyson, and the world premiere of “Daily Grind” by Dr. Justin Bunting,” professor of percussion at UA Little Rock. Dr. Smith and Blue Line Duo will perform “Catching Shadows” by Ivan Trevino.
The Trojan Steel Band will perform two tunes: “Underneath the Mango Tree,” a traditional calypso tune, and “Save Your Tears” by the Weeknd. The concert will close with an arrangement of the traditional West African rhythm, “Djole.”
It will be a weekend full of percussion fun as UA Little Rock will also host its second annual Percussion Day on Saturday, April 22. The event will bring high school percussionists from around the state to campus for a free day of performances and clinics.
Groups from Springdale Har-Ber High School, The Academies of West Memphis, and Star City High School will perform during Percussion Day. Students will also have the opportunity to receive instruction and feedback and attend clinics by guest artist Dr. Smith and Dr. Bunting.
The day will also include free literature, materials, and door prizes from some of the most recognizable percussion companies in the world. Interested high school seniors can audition for the UA Little Rock Music Program while they are on campus.
Those interested in attending UA Little Rock Percussion Day can register by filling out this form.
For more information on these events, contact Dr. Bunting at jbunting@ualr.edu.
