The Percussive Arts Society is the largest percussion ensemble organization in the world, with just over 6,000 members. Bunting describes the Percussive Arts Society International Convention as Disney World for percussionists.

It is the largest percussion convention in the world, 鈥渂ringing together over 5,000 people in Indianapolis for four days of performances, clinics, workshops, competitions, and other educational opportunities. One minute you are watching one of the top percussion ensembles in the country perform and the next you are sitting in a masterclass by a world-renowned marimbist.鈥�

Bunting decided to commit to the competition in November 2023. He had seen rapid growth in the ensemble and knew they could be successful at such a renowned convention. On May 1, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Percussion Ensemble was among the first groups to register for the Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition. Once confirmed, Bunting said he was extremely excited for his students and ready to get to work.

Four percussion students participated in the competition: Omar Delgado, Alexia Minzel, Ethan Nooner, and Cameron Thompson. The students performed 鈥淲atercolor Sun鈥� by Ivan Trevino last school year, so the process with that piece was crafting the interpretation and performance. Over the summer, the students learned, practiced, and memorized the second piece, 鈥淭he Gilded Cage,鈥� by Susan Powell.

Throughout the semester, there were weekly rehearsals. Bunting noted that the students truly took ownership of these pieces, scheduling their independent rehearsal times without his guidance. They also had coaching sessions with Ivan Trevino and Susan Powell, the composers of the two pieces. Bunting said it was an incredible amount of hard work put in by these students.

At the convention, they were judged by three world-class percussionists and competed against 29 other ensembles from across the United States. They placed 19 out of 30 in the competition, ahead of quite a few ensembles from much larger programs and universities. Bunting said he was thrilled with this result, which spoke to the students’ dedication and hard work.

The experience was rewarding for Bunting and reminded him of his own experience in college performing at PASIC.

鈥淲hen I was a second-year, undergraduate percussion major at Ohio State, our ensemble performed a showcase concert at PASIC,鈥� Bunting said. 鈥淚t was truly life-altering for me. So, when we came out of the performance room, and I saw the release of emotion and energy from the students, I knew they had a similar experience. Also, from a studio culture perspective, the bar has been raised. Big time. The standard for 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Percussion is now on the international stage!鈥�

This story was written by Rian Newman.

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The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall located in the Fine Arts Building. A performance unlike any other, the Chancellor鈥檚 Concert features nearly every student ensemble in the music program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

“The Chancellor’s Concert, now in its third year, is the Music Program’s largest event of the academic year,鈥� said Dr. Justin Bunting, director of instrumental activities. 鈥淭his concert features nearly every student ensemble in the Music Program, as well as five student soloists that were selected by a panel of judges via video audition. It is a joy for me every year to construct this program and for all of us to be afforded the opportunity to share the breadth of the Music Program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.”

Groups performing at this year鈥檚 Chancellor鈥檚 Concert include the Chamber Singers, Clarinet Ensemble, Concert Choir, Flute Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Women鈥檚 Choir.

The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock student ensembles and their pieces include:

• Concert Choir 鈥� 鈥淭he Last Words of David鈥� by Randall Thompson
• Piano Ensemble 鈥� 鈥淪panish Dance, Op. 12 No. 1鈥� by Moritz Moszkowski
• Chamber Singers – “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel, arranged by Bob Chilcott and 鈥淚n Noctem鈥� by Nicholas Hooper
• Jazz Ensemble – “Buckjump” by Troy Andrews and Mike Ballard, arranged by John Wasson
• Clarinet Ensemble 鈥� 鈥淐aprice for Clarinets鈥� by Clare Grundman
• Percussion Ensemble 鈥� 鈥淲atercolor Sun鈥� by Ivan Trevino
• Women’s Choir 鈥� 鈥淟as Amarillas鈥� arranged by Stephen Hatfield and 鈥淒ies Irae鈥� by Z. Randall Stroope
• Wind Ensemble 鈥� 鈥淒usk鈥� by Steven Bryant and 鈥淲altz No. 2鈥� by Dmitri Shostakovich, arranged by Michael Brown

The five student soloists and their pieces include:

• Max Reyes on flute performing 鈥淗ypnosis鈥� by Ian Clarke
• Val Bell-Ovwiomoriemu, soprano, performing 鈥淟a Diva de l’Empire鈥� by Erik Satie
• Shelby Loftis, soprano, performing “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” from Avenue Q by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
• Kyndal Collins, soprano, performing 鈥淐hanson d’amour鈥� by Gabriel Faur茅
• Nakira Bates on piano performing 鈥淕rand Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 34 No. 1鈥� by Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

For more information or questions regarding the event, please contact the School of Literary and Performing Arts at 501-916-3291.

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Both the Percussion Ensemble and the Trojan Steel Band are directed by Dr. Justin Bunting, the music program鈥檚 Director of Instrumental Activities in the School of Literary and Performing Arts.

鈥淭hese students have worked hard to prepare our largest program since my arrival in Fall 2019,鈥� Bunting said. 鈥淭he Percussion Ensemble portion of the concert consists of six pieces representing a wide variety of percussion repertoire. We are excited to showcase the diversity of the percussion ensemble genre, as well as the talents of our students.鈥�

Works to be performed include 鈥淥pening Remarks,鈥� a marimba quartet by Jeffrey Dennis Smith, 鈥淒rums of Moria鈥� by Nathan Daughtrey, and 鈥渕emory鈥� by Evan Chapman for children鈥檚 desk bells (emulating a wind chime) and live, electronic accompaniment.

The program will also include 鈥淢asterplan鈥� and 鈥淔earless鈥� by Chris Thompson, also known as Master Christopher. These two pieces are a preview of the ensemble’s March 2024 concert where Thompson’s album “Music Desegregation” will be presented with Thompson on stage as both a guest artist and soloist.

The Trojan Steel Band will close the concert with a mix of tunes including “Mary Anne,鈥� a traditional soca tune by Roaring Lion, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” originally by Elvis Presley, and “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon.

鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 like Steel Band music?鈥� Bunting said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to listen to and, perhaps, even more fun to play. This group is musically challenging but also a way to put aside your stress and enjoy playing these beautiful instruments. You will see students rotating from one type of steel drum to another between tunes. This is because I want as diverse of a learning, and musical, experience as possible for them.鈥�

Admission to the event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Bunting at jbunting@ualr.edu.

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