SWU News:

January 16, 2004

Southern Wesleyan features percussion ensemble

Members of the Winthrop University Percussion Ensemble will perform at Southern Wesleyan University on Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. as part of Southern Wesleyan’s Fine Arts Series.

CENTRAL, S.C. – Whether it’s contemporary or classical music, the Winthrop University Percussion Ensemble is committed to versatility.

The percussion ensemble will perform Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Southern Wesleyan University’s Folger Auditorium on the university’s main campus in Central. Admission is free. The event is part of Southern Wesleyan University’s Fine Arts Series.

The Winthrop University Percussion Ensemble explores traditional musical expressions from a variety of cultures, including traditional African and Afro-Latin styles. The group is dedicated to presenting quality percussion literature from a wide variety of musical genres. The ensemble regularly performs contemporary music from such composers as John Cage, Lou Harrison, Steve Reich, Tom Gauger and Christopher Rouse, among many others.

The group also performs transcriptions of classical literature for marimba ensemble, as well as traditional Mexican and Guatemalan tunes and ragtime selections. The recipient of two Presser Foundation grants, the Winthrop Percussion Ensemble has also performed at numerous percussion events and arts festivals throughout the Carolinas and has been featured on South Carolina Public Radio.

For details about the Fine Arts Series or to receive a copy of Southern Wesleyan’s Fine Arts schedule, call Jane Dill, Fine Arts Division Chair, at (864) 644-5294 or e-mail jdill@swu.edu.