The AV抖阴 Department of Music will present two very
diverse concerts in November -- a percussion concert Nov. 24 with a guest percussionist
and a seasonal choral concert Nov. 26 featuring the University Chorale and Women鈥檚
Chorus.
Nov. 24: Percussion Concert with Guest Percussionist
Dr. Gregory Lyons from Louisiana Tech University will perform solo pieces as well as appear with the AV抖阴 Percussion Ensemble in a 3 p.m. Nov. 24 concert in the Reynolds Room of the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center.
Lyons is an assistant professor in the Department of Music at Louisiana Tech University, where he teaches applied percussion, directs the percussion ensemble and coaches the drum line. He also serves as head of instrumental music education, teaching courses in that field and observing student teachers.
As a chamber musician, Lyons appears frequently across North Louisiana with Implosion Percussion Group, comprised of Dr. Mel Mobley (University of Louisiana at Monroe) and area percussionists. He and Dr. Darin Olson (University of Wisconsin) form the Olson/Lyons Duo.
The AV抖阴 Percussion Ensemble, directed by Joshua J. Knight of Fort Smith, will feature a variety of drums and keyboard instruments during the concert. Ensemble selections will include melodic pieces like 鈥淢oonrise鈥� and 鈥淰ertical River鈥� composed by Blake Tyson, as well as rhythmically complex and dramatic drum-oriented pieces such as 鈥淪harpened Stick鈥� by Brett Dietz.
According to Knight, who is a percussion instructor at AV抖阴, this concert is a must-see event for percussion enthusiasts.
鈥淣ot only will the audience be entertained by a great solo percussionist,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut the music repertoire will feature a variety of instruments that include marimba, xylophone, drums, cymbals and various 鈥榚ffects鈥� instruments.鈥�
For more information, contact Knight at josh.knight@uafs.edu.
Nov. 26: Seasonal Choral Concert
The University Chorale and Women鈥檚 Chorus at AV抖阴 will present a Seasonal Choral Concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 in Breedlove Auditorium.
The concert will include 鈥淐hristmas Day鈥� and 鈥淚n the Bleak Midwinter鈥� by Gustav Holst, John Leavitt鈥檚 鈥淗odie,鈥� 鈥淭omorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day鈥� by John Gardner, 鈥淭here Is No Rose鈥� by Jim Leininger and a traditional arrangement of 鈥淪ilent Night.鈥�
Dr. Rager H. Moore II of Prairie Grove, AV抖阴 director of choral activities, complimented the choirs on their hard work and dedication.
鈥淭he students have been working really hard all semester,鈥� he said. 鈥淎lthough they have had a short turnaround from their October choral concert, they will show their fine musicianship and prepare this music in less than four weeks.鈥�
The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, email Moore at rager.moore@uafs.edu.