Arts & Culture

Sō Percussion, UK Percussion Ensemble Channel Reich and Eno ‘Amid the Noise’ at Singletary

Sō Percussion presents an NPR Music "Tiny Desk Concert."

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 3, 2018) The University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts will present a concert with Percussion and the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble, conducted by the university’s own Director of Percussion Studies James Campbell, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 8, in the Singletary Center Recital Hall.

The program will include Sō Percussion’s 2006 composition, “Amid the Noise,” where Sō Percussion, the UK Percussion Ensemble, and Kollective, co-founded by UK percussion alumnus Jonathan Sharp, will channel Steve Reich and Brian Eno. The groups will also perform “Asphalt Jungle” by Sergio Asad with guitar soloists Dieter Hennings, associate professor of guitar at UK, and Andrew Zohn, professor at Columbus State University.

New York percussion quartet Sō Percussion synthesizes original music, artistic collaboration, theatrical and visual art into a unique experience for audiences. In a review, Billboard Magazine declared, “the range of colors and voices that Sō Percussion coaxes from its menagerie is astonishing and entrancing.”

Sō Percussion consists of percussionists Eric Cha-Beach, Josh Quillen, Adam Sliwinski and Jason Treuting. Together the musicians have redefined the scope and role of modern percussion ensembles. While touring, they have performed to audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom. The New York Times described the audience's experience as one where “time and again … you found yourself smiling in a quiet amazement that could verge on disbelief.”

Currently, Sō Percussion is the Edward T. Cone Ensemble-in-Residence at Princeton University and are co-directors of the percussion department at the Bard College-Conservatory of Music. The band is also involved in social and community outreach programs, including the annual Sō Percussion Summer Institute, a summer program for college-aged percussionists.

The UK Percussion Ensemble has won the prestigious Percussive Arts Society Collegiate Percussion Ensemble competition five times under the direction of James Campbell. They have performed at conventions and festivals, including Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, and The Bands of America Percussion Ensemble Festival.

Tickets for the Sō Percussion concert are $13 for general public. Ticket processing fees will be added upon purchase. UK students may receive a free ticket by bringing their student ID to the Singletary Center ticket office before the day of the show. Tickets are available online at www.SCFATickets.com, by phone at 859-257-4929, and in person at the Singletary Center.

A part of the UK College of Fine Arts, the Singletary Center for the Arts presents and hosts around 400 artistic, cultural and educational events annually for the university community, Lexington community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

photo of Sō Percussion seated holding twigs with the band name behind them
Sō Percussion