Contact: Sasha Steinberg
Photo by: Russ Houston
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State music department faculty member presents a solo percussion recital at 1 p.m. Sunday [Aug. 24] in the university's McComas Hall Auditorium.
Free and open to the public, the performance by associate professor Jason Baker will feature 13 separate works and a wide variety of percussion instruments, including drum set, marimba, vibraphone, timpani, snare drum and Arabic frame drum.
In showcasing musical styles ranging from classical to jazz, Baker said the program has been designed to "offer something new for everyone."
Baker, the department's percussion studies director, will be accompanied by professor Michael Brown on trumpet; Doug Thomas, Starkville High School assistant band director, tenor saxophone; Cliff Taylor, MSU associate director of bands and associate music professor, trombone; and junior Olivia Long, bass.
Long, a biological sciences/pre-veterinary medicine major from Fishers, Indiana, is a member of MSU's Famous Maroon and Jazz bands.
"Percussion music is diverse in nature, and I appreciate Michael, Doug, Cliff and Olivia taking the time to share their talents with me on stage," Baker said.
In addition to teaching responsibilities, Baker is an active performer who serves as principal timpanist for the Tupelo-based North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, principal percussionist for the Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra and a member of the State Messengers faculty jazz combo.
He holds a bachelor's from the University of Connecticut, a master's from the New England Conservatory of Music, both in music, and doctorate in musical arts from the University of North Texas. Additionally, he is an MSU master's degree graduate in business administration.
For additional details about the recital, contact Baker at 662-325-0390 or jbaker@colled.msstate.edu.
Learn more about the MSU Percussion Studio at www.msstateperc.info and on Facebook www.facebook.com/msstatepercussion and YouTube www.youtube.com/msstatepercussion.
Copies of the MSU Percussion Ensemble's CD, "Under a Southern Sky," may be obtained at no cost from the music department. The entire playlist also may be downloaded or streamed for free at https://soundcloud.com/#msstatepercussion/sets/under-a-southern-sky.
The percussion studio accepts tax-deductible donations via the MSU Foundation. To contribute, contact Lynn Durr at 662-325-8918 or ldurr@advservices.msstate.edu.
Information about Mississippi State University is found at www.msstate.edu and on Facebook www.facebook.com/msstate, Instagram and Twitter @msstate.