Lee University will hold a percussion festival for the Tennessee Day of Percussion. The event, sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Percussive Arts Society, will take place Saturday across campus.
Lee received a grant from TAC to hold the festival, which allows for more featured artists and events to take place. The featured artists, such as James Campbell, a distinguished professor from the University of Kentucky, and Andy Kruspe, Bodhran and Celtic music expert, will travel to Lee to give performances and/or judge competitions.
Competitions will begin at 9 a.m. with the high school keyboard competition, judged by Matthew Geiger and acclaimed composer Brian Nozny. Geiger, from East Tennessee State University and member of BlueSHIFT Percussion Quartet, will also give a performance later in the day.
Lee University’s Associate Professor of Music Dr. Andy Harnsberger, who will also perform, and Lee Vinson, adjunct associate professor of percussion at Vanderbilt University, will judge the college keyboard competition.
Tom Hurst, Nashville-based drummer for Tracy Lawrence, and Shane Gwaltney of Music City Mystique will both give performances and judge the high school snare competition. At 11 a.m., the all-state concert will be held in Pangle Hall. Later in the afternoon, there will be multiple ensemble performances, the competition winners will give a concert, and an all-collegiate concert will end the day.
Performances are open to the public. Children high school age and younger, including their parents, may attend for $5, PAS members for $10, and non-PAS members for $20.
For more information on Day of Percussion, registration, a full schedule, and performance locations, visit https://www.leeupercussion.com/schedule.