(Posted November 17, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The "Hallelujah Chorus" is usually performed by choirs, but the Juniata College Percussion Ensemble will find the heartbeat of the G.F. Handel masterwork in its fall concert at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23 in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts on the Juniata campus.

The concert, which also features the Juniata PVC Pipe Ensemble, is free and open to the public.

The ensemble will perform Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" as arranged by John Beck, a professor of percussion at the Eastman School of Music.

The percussion group also will perform "Storm Warning and Dance" by Steve Riley, and "Surfing the Net," by Murray Houllif, a noted percussion composer.

The group will give the concert an international flavor by playing "Taiko: A Study in Japanese Drumming," by Scott Harding. The group also will explore patriotic themes by playing "Oh Beautiful," an arrangement of "America The beautiful" for percussion, keyboard and vocals. Guest vocalists from Juniata's music department will provide accompaniment for the piece. The final selection will be another Murray Houllif composition, the Celtic-tinged "The Highland Fling."

The Juniata PVC Pipe Ensemble also will perform a variety of selections. The group plays large percussion instruments made from PVC plumbing pipe. The musicians play the instruments by banging on the end of the pipes with flip-flops.

The selections include "Cantina Band," from the "Star Wars" soundtrack, "La Bamba," made famous by Ritchie Valens and Los Lobos, "Pan Painted Blue," Conga" and "Reggae for Dinner."

The members of the Percussion Ensemble are as follows: Ashley Bauer, a junior from Slatington, Pa.; Chadi Bitar, a freshman from Brooklyn, N.Y.; Andrea Burton, a sophomore from, McLean, Va.; Jordan Campbell, a senior from Tyrone, Pa; Cory Daniels, a community member from State College, Pa.; Danielle Gaisior, a freshman from McVeytown, Pa.; Sara Garside, a freshman from Sunbury, Pa.; Elliot Haney, a senior from Duncansville, Pa.; Bridget Hughes, a sophomore from Troy, Pa.; Sergio Lopez, a sophomore from Edison, N.J.; Tyler NeuCollins, a sophomore from Solon, Iowa; Matina Patsos, a junior from Petersburgh, N.Y.; Amanda Schlosberg, a freshman from Baldwin, N.Y.; Kelley Stewart, a sophomore from Port Marion, Pa.; Sophia Suarez, a junior from Bronx, N.Y.; Kathleen Vanderau, a junior from, Scotland, Pa.; and Brenda Tyler, a junior from La Puente, Calif.





Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.