Utah State University Percussion Ensembles Prepare Unique Performance
By Ella Stott |
LOGAN, Utah — The USU Percussion Ensembles will be hosting their semi-annual performance at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center’s Daines Concert Hall. This unique event will be open to everyone, including students, community members and families.
Two percussion ensembles will be performing: the large ensemble and a percussion quintet. According to Jason Nicholson, director of the ensembles, this year’s group consists of many non-music majors but their talent is exceptional.
“They’re very good, and I wanted to challenge them,” Nicholson said. “I have a lot of people in the ensemble, so I picked bigger pieces.”
The event has a wide variety of music styles, from traditional classical percussion music to world percussion.
“We’re playing a minimalist piece by Philip Glass that requires about 20 wine bottles and bowls,” Nicholson said. “We’re also playing a piece called ‘Sharpened Stick’ that’s based on Native American music.”
According to Nicholson, the progress the students have made from the start of the semester to now has been incredible to watch.
“I love their energy. I love to take them from the first rehearsal to before the concert, where they’re really rocking the pieces,” Nicholson said. “I just like seeing their satisfaction and their joy of making the product really good.”
Nicholson said he is particularly excited for this semester’s performance because of the diversity of music and sound the audience will get to hear from the pieces.
“For kids and adults alike, they’re going to love all the different textures, all the different playing,” Nicholson said. “It’s just an interesting textural or soundscape kind of adventure.”
Tickets are free for students and faculty, $10 for adults and $8 for seniors. Tickets can be purchased online or at the CCA Box Office in the Daryl Chase Fine Arts Center.
WRITER
Ella Stott
Communications Intern
Caine College of the Arts
(385) 775-2564
ella.stott@usu.edu
CONTACT
Jason Nicholson
Associate Professor and Drumline
Department of Music
435-797-3008
jason.nicholson@usu.edu
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