Concordia’s Cultural Events will present Heartland Marimba Quartet in conjunction with Concordia’s Annual Percussion Day at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 1, in Memorial Auditorium.
A marimba is an instrument similar to a xylophone but produces a warmer sound using mallets on wooden planks. Heartland Marimba Quartet (HMQ) celebrates and elevates the accessibility of the classical marimba art form through community outreach, educational experiences, generating new repertoire, and opportunities for professionals. The HMQ has performed more than 140 concerts since its inception in 2016. Its four distinctly creative forces are Ujjal Bhattacharyya, Matthew Coley, Marco Schirripa, and Hunter Gross. The group seeks to give a platform to the music of American composers in its programming and continues to expand its repertoire with works from composers worldwide.
Dr. David P. Eyler, professor of percussion and percussion techniques and director of the Percussion Ensemble and Marimba Choir, will celebrate his 31st Percussion Day. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with several activities throughout the day with a Concordia Percussion Ensemble and Marimba Choir Concert at 4 p.m. Guest clinicians Gregg Bissonette, drum set, and Lisa Rogers, vibraphone, will take part in Percussion Day events.
Eyler worked under Tri-College University beginning in 1987 before taking the new full-time position at Concordia in 2000. His retirement this spring concludes 36 years of teaching at Concordia.
Percussion Day and the Percussion Concert are free and open to the public. Tickets for the HMQ concert are $20 for general admission and $10 for students under 18. For tickets visit ConcordiaTickets.com.
