Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host the Tennessee Tech University Percussion Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. 

“The concert will be unique because the Tennessee Tech University ensemble is performing a ‘literature session’ at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention,” said Dr. Ryan Lewis, OBU assistant professor of percussion. “It will consist of excerpts from many compositions for percussion ensemble, which is what they will present on campus, instead of the traditional concert of a limited number of pieces performed in their entirety.”

The Tennessee Tech University Percussion Ensemble, directed by Dr. Eric Willie, were one of four groups selected to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin, Texas. Ensembles auditioned from all around the globe to present at this year's convention, which is the largest percussion event in the world and showcases all areas of percussion.

“This will be a great way for our students to interact with other college percussionists and see a truly great percussion ensemble perform right here on our campus,” Lewis added.

Members of the TTU Percussion Ensemble have studied at the Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar, the So Percussion Summer Institute and the Nief-Norf Summer Festival and have marched as members of a number of regional drum and bugle corps. A member of the ensemble has also been awarded the TTU Department of Music’s “Outstanding Music Major” for three consecutive years.

The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Devan Malone