Dr. Ryan Lewis, associate professor of music at Ouachita Baptist University, will present a percussion duo recital with Erick Saoud of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (ASO) on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

Dr. Ryan Lewis

“Erick Saoud and I have been friends and colleagues for many years,” said Lewis. “We perform together in the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, work together at summer percussion camps and have performed chamber music together on many occasions. This concert is made up of some of the many percussion duets were have performed over the years.

“In fact,” he noted, “these are our favorite pieces to perform.”

Dr. Rick Dimond, principal timpanist of the ASO and professor of music at Henderson State University, and Dr. Justin Bunting, director of percussion studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will be featured guest performers for the evening.

The program includes “Clapping Music” by Steve Reich, “Red” by Marc Mellits, “Carpe Diem” by Susan Powell, “Drum Dance” by Gene Koshinski and “Orgel” by Takayoshi Yoshioka. Lewis, Saoud and Bunting will perform Andrew Beall’s cajon trio “Rancho Jubilee,” and the four percussionists will play Daniel Levitan’s “Marimba Quartet” together.

Erick Saoud

“The concert will feature a wide variety of instruments and musical styles. There are pieces for drums and percussion, a piece for glockenspiel and vibraphone that sounds like a music box, a minimalist marimba duet, the cajon trio with West African and Brazilian rhythms, and one of the most famous and interesting marimba quartets ever composed,” Lewis said. “There will certainly be something for everyone on this program!”

The recital is an Arts Engagement performance, one in a series designed to encourage students to attend or participate in music, theatre or visual art events held on campus.

For more information about the recital, contact Dr. Ryan Lewis at (870) 245-5421 or at [email protected]