Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 27, 1995 TAG: 9501270029
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The instruments have changed over the years, but the modus operandi is basically the same.
The annual Radford University Percussion Symposium, a two-day event featuring music clinics, master classes and performances by top notch percussionists, is today and Saturday. Now in its sixth year, the symposium draws musicians from all over the world.
Khalid Abdul N'Faly Saleem, a master drummer with the Djembe Orchestra, will be in the spotlight Saturday at an 8 p.m. concert in Preston Auditorium. Radford University's Percussion and Marimba Ensemble will present a program of African music with Saleem.
Saleem also will perform with the Radford University Drum Ensemble. The musicians will play a variety of African instruments, including the Baliphone (African xylophone) and Mbira (thumb pianos).
Al Wojtera, director of percussion and jazz studies at the university, is hosting the symposium.
The first public performance is tonight at 8 in Preston Auditorium. This concert features marimba soloist Gordon Stout.
Wojtera said Stout is known as a great innovator "who revolutionized formal marimba technique." The university's Marimba Ragtime Band will perform with him tonight.
Admission for the performances is $3 for adults, $1 for children and free for Radford University students and staff. Tickets will be available before the concerts in Preston Auditorium.
EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BEETHOVEN BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK: The Audubon Quartet will continue its two-year series of concerts presenting the complete string quartets of Beethoven this weekend. The first performance is Saturday at 8 p.m. and the second is Sunday at 3 p.m. in Squires Recital Salon. David Ehrlich, violinist, will give a lecture 45 minutes before each concert.
This is your chance to gobble up the musician's insight into Beethoven's life and work.
Beethoven wrote 16 string quartets in addition to his huge volume of orchestral works, vocal works and chamber music. The Audubon Quartet will perform the Quartet in A Major, Op. 18, No. 5, the Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1 and the Grosse Fuge for String Quartet.
The group features Clyde Shaw on cello, Doris Lederer on viola and David Salness and Ehrlich on violins. Since becoming Virginia Tech's quartet-in-residence in 1981, the musicians have represented the university in appearances all over the world. They were the first American quartet to visit the People's Republic of China.
Since they've been in Blacksburg, the musicians have undertaken several special projects - such as the Beethoven cycle - for fans in the local community.
Admission this weekend is $7 for adults or $5 for students and senior citizens. All tickets are general seating and may be reserved by calling the box office in Squires Student Center, 231-5615.
The Dan Sandidge Quartet heats up Maxwell's in Blacksburg tonight and Saturday.
The jazz group features Scott Ankrom on sax. Ankrom is now based in Richmond after working in Boston where he was active in recording music and performing with the Back Bay Brass Big Band. He plays all kinds of jazz styles and does some creative renditions of jazz standards.
Dan Sandidge, a jazz pianist, just finished working a 31/2-year engagement at the Greenbrier Resort. He, too, is based in Richmond.
Sandidge has jammed with some of the biggies in jazz music: Nat Adderly, Randy Brecker, Kai Winding, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Al Conn, Joe Newman and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, to name a few. He has an album, "My Kind of Piano," on Deca Records.
The music at Maxwell's starts and 9 p.m. and goes til 1 a.m. A $3 cover charge admits each jazz lover.
Maxwell's is on North Main Street across from The Fitness Connection.
CHA-CHA-CHA! The New River Valley chapter of the U.S. Ballroom Association, along with Radford University's dance department, is putting on an evening of ballroom dance tonight from 7 to 10. Come to 128 Peters Hall and be ready to try the samba, the conga and the rhumba.
Seliciano Jusay and Holly Pickle will demonstrate Latin steps and other styles of ballroom dance. Best of all, they'll teach you how to do it, too.
Admission at the door is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Call Melanie Ondich at 980-0632 for details.
OOPS! HOOPS! If you like your basketball a little on the wacky side, don't miss the Harlem Rockets Monday at Pulaski County High School. The school's band boosters are sponsoring the comedy basketball team in a game with the Pulaski County High School Faculty All-Stars. It starts at 7 p.m. in the gym.
The Harlem Rockets features Valentino Willis, captain and coach of the team. Willis, a New York native, played basketball at Norfolk State University before joining the comedy circuit 25 years ago.
Advance tickets, $4, are available at the Pulaski County High School bookstore, Cougar Express and the Volvo-GM cafeteria. You also may pick them up today and Saturday at Wal-Mart.
Tickets at the door Monday are $5.
by CNB