Gala Benefit Recital to feature former ESU music faculty member

The 2006 Music Benefit Recital will feature guest artist and former music faculty member Scott Herring, marimba.  The performance is scheduled for Saturday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Heath Recital Hall in Beach Music Hall.

Herring is an assistant professor of percussion at the University of South Carolina. At USC, Scott directs the Percussion Ensemble and the Palmetto Pans Steel Band. Previously he served as assistant professor of percussion and assistant director of bands at Emporia State University.

He holds a bachelor of music degree from East Carolina University and a master’s degree and doctor of music degree from Northwestern University. While residing in Chicago, he performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago under the batons of Daniel Barenboim, John Adams and Pierre Boulez. He has presented clinics and concerts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Michigan and Texas as well as a clinic at the 2002 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Columbus, Ohio. He also serves as a New Music Reviewer for Percussive Notes, the journal of the Percussive Arts Society and as Vice-President of the South Carolina Chapter of PAS

Herring, along with Susan Powell and Joseph Krygier, performed as the Shiraz Percussion trio and have appeared at the Ohio and South Carolina Day of Percussion as well as the 2006 Ohio State University Drums Downtown Concert.

Herring and USC saxophone professor Clifford Leaman have recently performed a saxophone/percussion duo, performing contemporary music for percussion and saxophone.  Together they have performed at the University of South Carolina and the University of Southern

Mississippi.  In November, they will give the world premiere of a newly commissioned work for saxophone and percussion by John Fitz Rogers.  A recording project is planned for spring 2007 which will feature premiere recordings of several new works for saxophone and percussion.

In addition to his return to Emporia, he will also give performances at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro and Virginia Commonwealth University this fall.  He has also been invited to be part of a Collegiate Committee Panel Discussion at the 2006 Percussive Arts Society International Convention.

The annual Music Benefit Fund provides scholarship assistance to musically talented and academically strong Emporia State University students.  Both currently enrolled and prospective students compete by means of audition for this scholarship support.  All proceeds from the benefit concert are used for music talent scholarships.

Tickets are available by calling 341-5431 or at the door.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>