Musicians hold clinic

Published 10:50 pm Monday, March 19, 2012

World-class percussionists Bob Becker and Russell Hartenberger will be in residence at Troy University today and Wednesday.

The dynamic duo will work with Troy University students during the day and conduct clinics for high school percussionists at 6:30 p.m.

“This is an unique opportunity for students at the university and high school levels to work with such highly acclaimed percussionists,” said Dr. William Denison, president of the sponsoring Troy Arts Council. “Both Bob Becker and Russell Hartenberger have performed with orchestras and concert bands throughout the United States. They perform nearly all of the musical disciplines where percussion is found.

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“Bob Becker is considered to be one of the world’s premier virtuoso performers on the xylophone and marimba. His clinics and workshops cover a wide variety of percussion topics including North Indian tabla drumming, West and East African percussion, ‘melodic’ snare drumming and ragtime xylophone improvisation concepts.”

Hartenberger has studied mrdangam, tabla, Javanese Gamelan and West African Drumming.

“He performed on the Grammy Award-winning recording of ‘Music for 18 Musicians,’” and toured throughout the world with the Reich Ensemble,” Denison said. “The Troy Arts Council has partnered with Troy University to bring two of the top percussionists in the world to Troy.”

The Becker and Hartenberger clinic for high school students will be at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Hawkins Adams Long Hall and at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Trojan Center Theater. The clinics are open to the public.

“Those who would like to see these two clinicians at work are invited to attend one of the clinics,” Denison said.

The Troy Arts Council will present Becker and Hartenberger with the Troy University Percussion Ensemble at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Trojan Center Theater on the campus of Troy University.

Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for students with an ID.

Tickets will be available at the door.