NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Percussion Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will present its annual spring concert, which will include the world premiere of SFA percussionist Carson Chlup’s “Shattered Hearts,” when the student music group performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, the Percussion Ensemble’s concert will also feature student soloists Micah York, junior music education major from Texarkana, performing on Joe Green’s “Xylophonia,” arranged by Bob Becker; and Riley Selman, sophomore music education major from Frankston, performing on Zequinha de Abreu’s “Tico-Tico no Fubá,” arranged by Micah York.
Chlup, a sophomore from Mansfield, describes “Shattered Hearts” as “the embodiment of broken relationships.” The piece was written for the SFA Percussion Ensemble.
“Whether it be romantic, family or friendships, ‘Shattered Hearts’ takes us through the stages of love, heartbreak and the attempt of moving on,” Chlup states. “This piece is meant to make the listener and player feel something, encouraging them to make this story their own. Everyone's story is different when it comes to love, and the goal of this piece is to allow all facets of it.”
The revival of interest in the music of George Hamilton Green, brother of Joe Green, can be credited almost completely to the scholarly efforts and xylophone artistry of Bob Becker and the world-famous percussion group NEXUS, according to the program notes. The Percussion Ensemble concert features the arrangement Becker made for NEXUS. The arrangement caught the attention of audiences and percussionists around the world and created a whole new fascination with the xylophone as a solo instrument, the notes explain.
Other works on the program include “Shifty” by Dennis DeSantis; “Stubernic” by Mark Ford; “beFORe JOHN7” by Hollò Aurél and Váczi Zoltán; and “Trio per Uno” by Nebojša Jovan Živković.
Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, visit the SFA Fine Arts Box Office website or call (936) 468-6407. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!