SUU Percussion Ensemble Celebrates Moments of Sunshine

Published: April 04, 2019 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Arthur LipnerSUU’s Department of Music will host the SUU Percussion Festival including a concert titled, Moments of Sunshine, on Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. in the Thorley Recital Hall of the Music Building on SUU’s campus. Guest artist Arthur Lipner will teach workshops and perform with the SUU Percussion Ensemble. This concert is free and open to the public. 

Emily Sexton, percussion student at SUU, shares, “We are working on several pieces this semester, all themed around happiness. Some of the pieces we're working on include Alex Stopa's ‘Three Scenes From the Desert’, a three movement piece inspired by the desert landscapes of Southern Nevada and California; Clif Walker's ‘Shine’, and Claude Debussy's ‘Sarabande’, arranged for three marimbas by SUU's own, Professor Joe Howe. I am also absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to work and perform with Arthur Lipner on his piece, ‘Lime Juice’! I'm excited to be a part of the upcoming percussion festival; it's going to be amazing!” 

Lipner has been performing percussion professionally since the age of 14. He has performed on almost 50 albums, appeared in 25 countries, and has had almost 100 of his compositions released on recordings. His specialty is jazz marimba and vibes. He is a performer who focuses on fun and good times. 

Jordan Nielsen, senior percussion student at SUU, explains, "Our program is based around the idea of sunshine and the energy that it creates. My favorite work on the program is Soar by Robert Oetomo – a marimba concerto with percussion ensemble accompaniment. The piece has an energetic and optimistic quality that reminds me of flying above the clouds. I am very excited to perform this marimba concerto in my last percussion ensemble concert at SUU!”  

Nielsen goes on to say, “Arthur Lipner is a master in the percussion world. Through his hard work and love of his craft, he has made a career for himself as a gigging percussionist. This is no easy feat and I’m looking forward to being able to learn everything I can from him." 

Ring in the Spring with this percussion ensemble concert focusing on sunshine and happiness. For more information about the Percussion section at SUU, please visit SUU Percussion

About the College of Performing and Visual Arts

The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 26 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM) degrees in art, design, dance, music and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring nearly 700 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year and is affiliated with the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Center for Shakespeare Studies. Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.

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