Drum Expert to Showcase Talents

Master percussionist and five-time Grammy award-winning artist Glen Velez will present an evening concert at 8 p.m. April 3 in Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall.

He will also give a performance and history master class, open to all interested students and faculty, at 2:30 p.m. April 3 in the Student Union Building Alumni Room.

Velez is the founding father of the modern frame drum movement and is regarded as a legendary figure among musicians and audiences worldwide. Although the frame drum is one of the most ancient types of musical instruments, Velez’s new style has opened new possibilities for musicians around the globe.

Velez is the first percussionist to gain international recognition as a successful solo artist using frame drums. His plethora of sounds has inspired collaborations with a long and eclectic list. His signature sound can be heard on numerous films, television commercials, modern dance scores and hundreds of albums.

For more than 35 years, Velez has researched and cataloged frame drum history from the most ancient times to the present. He began to present highlights from the catalog in 2010.

Velez’s appearance is sponsored by the Center for Multi-Cultural Affairs, School of Arts and Letters and the Truman Percussion Society. For more information, contact Michael Bump at 785.4052 or at mbump@truman.edu.
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