March 19, 2008 — The University of Virginia's McIntire Department of Music presents "A Night of Percussion," featuring the U.Va. Percussion Ensemble, directed by I-Jen Fang, and guest artist Josh Jennings on Tuesday, April 15, at 8 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

The program features "Bien Sabroso," written by world-famous Latin percussionist and recording artist Poncho Sanchez. This cha-cha has become a standard amongst Latin-jazz musicians and listeners alike. "Girando na Renda," a playful samba by one of Rio's rising new talents, Roberta Sá, will give a taste of Brazil. Works by Lynn Glassock, Thom Hasenpflug, Murray Houllif, Eckhard Kopetzki and Susan Powell round out the program.

Jennings is a sought-after percussion artist, clinician and educator based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. He performs and teaches all forms of music, specializing in Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, Polynesian, Latin/Jazz, concert marimba and marching styles. Jennings holds bachelor of music education and master of music performance degrees from the University of North Texas percussion program.

The U.Va. Percussion Ensemble performs literature from classical transcriptions to contemporary music. The ensemble draws upon a large family of pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments.  Members of the U.Va. Percussion Ensemble are Ryan Bird, Elliott Burris, Laura Chesser, Ben Cooper, Bena, Dam, Maximilian Frantz, Christopher Kennedy, Evan Monez, Lance Murashige, Daniel Pyon and Veronica Tornini.

For directions or information, call the Cabell Hall Box Office at (434) 924-3984.