Promising young high school and middle school percussion ensembles from around Nevada will be performing at the University throughout the day on March 8, 2024, seeking feedback from the School of Music’s percussion faculty and Doctor of Musical Arts students Carlos Ochoa and Chance Utter.

The event is unique in its focus on percussion. Percussionists are often seen in the back of the band or orchestra providing accompaniment. This event features percussionists in the context of a percussion ensemble, or as percussion soloists or in a chamber ensemble. A collection of marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, bells and chimes will be featured along with standard orchestral percussion instruments such as snare drum, timpani, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, castanets and woodblocks.

The guest performing artist will be Sean Collins and his Folktet. Sean is an active vibraphonist in the San Luis Obispo area of California, where he performs with a variety of jazz and popular music groups both as vibraphonist and drummer. Sean’s “Folktet” will be made up of Sean Collins (vibraphone), Graham Marshall (violin), Angelo Monroy (piano) and Andrew Heglund (drums). Much of the group’s repertoire is composed of Sean’s original compositions.

The Day of Percussion culminates with an evening concert at 7:30 p.m. in Nightingale Hall with performances by the University of Nevada, Reno Percussion Ensemble, World Percussion Ensemble, Northern Nevada All-Star High School Percussion Ensemble and Sean Collins and the Folktet.

The World Percussion Ensemble features samba-inspired percussion music and percussion instruments from Brazil. The University of Nevada, Reno Percussion Ensemble and the Northern Nevada All-Star High School Percussion Ensemble (students from McQueen, Damonte Ranch, North Valleys and Sparks High Schools) are under the direction of Andrew Heglund. The University of Nevada, Reno World Percussion Ensemble is under the direction of Chance Utter.

Day of Percussion evening concert tickets are available online or at the Church Fine Arts box office on the night of the event ($12 general admission; free for youth ages 3 through 17, University faculty and staff and students with I.D.).

The School of Music is part of the College of Liberal Arts.