Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present "Percussion Unplugged," a concert featuring the SFA Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, in Cole Concert Hall.

The first half of the concert will feature three senior percussionists and the Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of David LaClair, Nacogdoches senior, and Scott Harris, SFA assistant professor of percussion.

Music education majors Josh Bass of Belton and Joe Robinson of Dallas will perform John Beck's "Concerto for Timpani" and David Mancini's "Concerto for Solo Drumset and Percussion Ensemble" respectively. Music performance major Kayla Roth of Lufkin will perform Minoru Miki's "Marimba Spiritual," a work that is based off the traditional Taiko drumming of Japan.

The second half of the concert will feature the quieter side of the popular SFA Steel Band, explained Harris. "While the group usually performs in a high energy setting with eight sets of pans (steel drums) and a full percussion battery section, this concert will showcase a smaller, more intimate performance--including a reduced number of pans, lighter percussion instruments, electric bass and guitar."

"The title 'Unplugged' comes from the popular MTV series, with the same name, where performers stripped down their technology and played an acoustic set of their popular hits," Harris continued.

The Steel Band will perform many of their popular hits, like "Maryanne," "Black Magic Woman" and "Margaritaville," in addition to some new arrangements by student members of the group.

Cole Concert Hall is located at 2210 Alumni Dr. on the SFA campus. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.