Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Bob Becker, world-renowned percussionist, in concert with the OBU Percussion Ensemble Monday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. “I wouldn't be surprised if smoke starts coming up from his mallets," said Dr. Ryan Lewis, OBU assistant professor of percussion.

Becker will also lead a clinic on West African drumming at 4 p.m. April 3 in OBU’s band room. Both events are free and open to the public.

Becker is a founding member of the professional percussion ensemble Nexus. He is “a legend in the percussion community,” Lewis said. In the April 4 concert, he will perform rudimental drumming, free improvisation and ragtime pieces.

"Every spring I try to bring in a guest artist to Ouachita to give students an experience with professional musicians," Lewis added. "When people leave this concert, they will be saying, 'Oh my goodness! I can't believe he can do that with his hands.’”

Becker earned Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music where he studied percussion with William G. Street and John H. Beck and composition with Warren Benson and Aldo Provenzano. He also completed four years of post-graduate study at Wesleyan University.

As an undergraduate, Becker was awarded the Eastman School's prestigious Performer's Certificate for his concerto performance with the Rochester Philharmonic; he has gone on to earn many other awards and honors throughout his professional career.

Becker was a founding member of the Steve Reich music ensemble, which won a Grammy in 1998, and has performed internationally in such cities as Budapest, London, New York, Tokyo and Toronto.

For more information about Becker or Nexus, visit www.nexuspercussion.com. For more information about Ouachita’s percussion program, visit www.obu.edu/percussion or contact Dr. Ryan Lewis at [email protected] or (870) 245-5421.

By Glenn Bolton