Marissa Brown and Tylor Williams, percussion students at Southern Utah University’s music department, won state championship awards at the Percussive Arts Society Utah chapter’s annual Day of Percussion on March 19. Brown won the college timpani category, and Williams won the college marimba category.
With the smallest program and school, SUU students competed in the six available college-level categories against other colleges in the state.
Dr. Lynn Vartan, percussion director at SUU, is overwhelmed by SUU’s consistent success at these competitions.
“We are establishing a strong presence year after year and our students work hard to perfect their performances,” she said. “Though competitions are not the main focus of our musical pursuits, the recognition of our strength in Percussion at the state level is magnificent.”
“This was a great opportunity to meet other percussionists from Utah and to participate in and observe many different music cultures and performing groups,” said Brown.
Brown performed “Bateria” by Darin Kamstra.
“The piece uses different types of sticks and mallets to create exciting contrasts between the sections,” Brown said. “Since I was doing a timpani piece and each set of timpani is different, I practiced playing on five different sets of timpani at five different locations to try and get used to the many possible circumstances and types of drums. I wasn’t sure what I would encounter at the Day of Percussion.”
More information about the music department and the College of Performing and Visual Arts at Southern Utah University is available at suu.edu/pva.
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