Percussion duo Escape Ten will open the Lee University Performing Arts Series on Aug. 31
Percussion duo Escape Ten will open the Lee University Performing Arts Series on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall.
Escape Ten comprises Dr. Annie Stevens and Dr. Andrea Venet, assistant professors of percussion at Virginia Tech and the University of North Florida, respectively. They tour extensively as Malletech artists, are passionate educators, and have their own publication series through Keyboard Percussion Publications.
The program will feature works by Stephen Ridley, Steve Danyew, Ivan Trevino, John Psathas, Kelly Rossum, Joe Locke, Michael Burritt, and Radiohead, along with pieces by Dr. Venet. Remaining passionate about exploring all genres and expressing these creatively through the world of percussion, much of Steven and Venet’s repertoire includes innovative arrangements and compositions commissioned exclusively by the duo.
The duo has been featured at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar, Rhea Miller Concert Series, Musica Viva Concert Series, and McCormick Marimba Festival, among others. This October, Escape Ten will be featured at the College Music Society National Conference, including a premiere of their newest commission in collaboration with artist and composer Ivan Trevino.
Dr. Stevens is an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and internationally. She has been featured in performances at the International Computer Music Conference, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the U.S., the Wintergreen Music Festival, the Garth Newell Music Center, and the International Trumpet Guild. Dr. Stevens can be heard on the albums “Blue Earth County” with the Kelly Rossum Quartet and Escape Ten’s “Colours of a Groove.”
Dr. Venet, soloist and chamber musician, has performed internationally in Europe and in the U.S., taking second prize at the 2013 PAS KoSA Solo Marimba Competition at New York University. She has also been a featured performer with Saturday Night Live percussionist Valerie Naranjo, Ivan Trevino, the Lawson Ensemble, Project Trio, the Eastman Percussion Ensemble, and Grammy winning alternative band TOOL.
Escape Ten will offer a masterclass on Friday, Sept. 1, at 3 p.m. in Pangle Hall.
Thursday’s performance is open to the public and free of charge, but tickets are required due to limited seating. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning Aug. 24 in the Dixon Center Box Office from 3-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, or by calling 614-8343.
For more information about the Performing Arts Series or the masterclass, contact the Lee University School of Music at music@leeuniversity.edu or 614-8240.