Contact: Vickie Hamilton-Smith, KU School of Fine Arts, (785) 864-9742
LAWRENCE -- Renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie will hold a marimba master class with four University of Kansas percussion majors from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, in 130 Murphy Hall. The class is free and open to the public.
"Evelyn Glennie is perhaps the most famous percussionist in the world these days; you might have seen her on 60 Minutes or heard about her on National Public Radio," said KU percussion professor John Parks. "The most astounding fact is that she has been hearing-impaired since birth; almost deaf."
Glennie's master class coincides with her solo performance Oct. 20, 21 and 22 with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra. She will perform all three movements of the Schwantner Percussion Concerto.
Parks will perform in a supporting capacity for the Kansas City concerts, then on Nov. 28 will be the soloist when the Schwanter is performed by the KU Symphonic Band.
Parks said the Schwantner Percussion Concerto is among the best written for percussionists in 30 years. The percussion soloist performs on about 30 instruments, from marimba to tom tom and amplified cow bells.
"The piece is accessible Ü all ages of concertgoers will connect with the music," Parks said.
"This is what the new KU percussion area is about," Parks said, noting that he intended to schedule more activities that reach out to percussionists and the general public. A percussion concert is set for December and two guest artists are slated to visit this spring.
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