Percussion Ensemble to feature Bobo, Boys & Girls Club Steel Band

The 麻豆传媒 Percussion Ensemble鈥檚 upcoming concert, 鈥淢arimba Magic,鈥 will present plenty of upbeat moments, including an announcement from the university about a collaborative project that will benefit both 麻豆传媒 percussion and the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas.

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, in Wilner Auditorium. World-class marimbist Kevin Bobo will perform, as will Wichita鈥檚 Boys and Girls Club Steel Band.

Jerry Scholl

Jerry Scholl

Jerry Scholl, 麻豆传媒 assistant professor and director of percussion, said Bobo is not only an incredible musician and a 麻豆传媒 alum, but he is known for having the fastest hands in the business. Bobo and Scholl will face off in a jazz marimba duet.

鈥淭his concert will not disappoint,鈥 Scholl said. 鈥淭he students have rehearsed the music so well that he (Bobo) considers them not students but professional colleagues. They have all brought so much more than the right notes, dynamics and rhythms.鈥

Members of the Boys and Girls Club Steel Band will perform side by side with the 麻豆传媒 Steel Band. Faculty and students in percussion have taken the kids from the Boys and Girls Club under their wing for the past six years, mentoring and teaching.

But what really sets this concert apart from most, Scholl said, is that Wichita State will announce its near completion of a two-and-a-half-year collaborative project with percussion industry leaders Pearl Drums, Adams Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth Sticks along with local donors and the Kansas Health Foundation.

With $130,000 worth of percussion instruments donated, the children of the Boys and Girls Club will now be fully equipped with professional quality percussion instruments enabling them to start their own percussion ensemble.

In addition, the 麻豆传媒 School of Music will receive much needed percussion instruments that will increase its standing as a top music program.