Utah State University Percussion Ensemble to Perform on Nov. 6

Utah State University will present its Percussion Ensemble Concert from 7:30-9:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the Daines Concert Hall in the Chase Fine Arts Center.

“People can expect an hour or two of exciting, dynamic, contrasting percussion music — some of it rhythmically based, some melodically based, some of it very easy to comprehend and some of it a little bit more abstract,” said Benjy Krauss, USU Music (Percussion) Temporary Instructor.

The students performing at this concert have been preparing their work since early September. The performers include USU percussion music majors as well as non-music majors who are members of the Percussion Ensemble.

According to Krauss, the majority of the pieces will be performed chamber style with 4-6 students playing on stage without a conductor. The final piece will be played in the percussion orchestra style, consisting of a larger group of students, each mimicking the sections of a symphony orchestra. Krauss will be the conductor for this final piece.

“I know the audience will leave the concert feeling that some of what they thought they knew about percussion was challenged, some of the expectations and biases that they had about what it is that percussionists do were challenged, and a much wider range of possibilities is showcased

for our instruments,” Krauss said.

The showcase of the concert is the piece “Doll's House Story” by István Márta. This will be performed by the five students of the Caine Percussion Ensemble.

“This piece depicts a battle that breaks out in the middle of the night at a toy shop,” Krauss said. “The piece is also an allegory for some conflict that happened in the 20th century in Hungary. So it's a very serious work but also has an element of fairy tale to it with a bit of a deeper meaning.”

Krauss also said he hopes the concert will help attendees feel similarly to how one might feel when they walk through a great museum — inspired, challenged and enriched.

Following the concert, Krauss has extended the invitation for any high school students or curious/aspiring percussionists to come up to the stage, meet the student performers and take a look at some of the instruments.

Tickets for this concert are free to all USU students, faculty and staff. Adult tickets can be purchased for $10, and senior (65+) tickets for $8.

USU Percussion Ensemble Program: