PULLMAN, Wash. — Guest marimba performer Nanae Mimura will highlight the 2002 Northwest Percussion Festival April 5-6 at Washington State University.
The festival was started in 1985 to give classical percussion ensembles from the Northwest a chance to perform for one another and exchange repertoire ideas. More than 200 percussion students and directors from universities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska are expected to attend, said WSU music faculty member David Jarvis, director of the WSU Percussion Ensemble. The festival is open to the public without charge with the exception of the Washington Idaho Symphony Concert.
Mimura will perform Minoru Miki’s “Marimba Spiritual” with the WSU Percussion Ensemble at the April 5 “Local Guys” Concert set for 7:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall. Also on the program will be groups from Eastern Washington University, Martin Zyskowski, director, and the University of Idaho, Daniel Bukvich, director.
Hailed as one of the most significant marimba players of her generation, Mimura has been praised for both her soulful performance and her technical mastery. Highlights of past seasons include performances in Japan, the United States and Europe. In 1999, she performed at the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Concert. She also performed several solo recitals at the Settimane Musicale di Lugano Festival in Switzerland.
Recently she made her Latin American debut performing with the Guatemala National Symphony and a recital in Guatemala City. She gave recitals throughout Japan including at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and also was invited to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Dallas.
The festival continues Saturday at 9 a.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall with a performance by Central Washington University, Doug Rosener, director. Following at 10 a.m. in Kimbrough Hall, Room 101, will be Oregon State University, Bob Brudvig, director. The 11 a.m. program in Kimbrough Concert Hall features the University of Alaska, Anchorage, John Damberg, director.
A series of performances are planned for Saturday afternoon starting at 12:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall with Seattle Pacific University, Dan Adams, director; 1:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Lecture Hall, Room 101, a lecture and performance by Mimura; 2:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall, the University of Puget Sound, Amy Putnam, director; 3:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Lecture Hall, Room 101, a workshop, “Practice Techniques and Relaxation” by Damberg; and at 4:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall, Lewis and Clark College, Mark Goodenberger, director, and Portland State University, Joel Bluestone, director.
The festival’s finale concert featuring the Washington Idaho Symphony with L. Keating Johnson, director, is planned for 8 p.m. at Pullman’s Gladish Community Center Auditorium. The program includes Smetana’s “The Moldau” and Dan Bukvich’s “From the Journals of Lewis and Clark.” Mimura will perform Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez.” For information on tickets for the symphony, call (509) 332-3408.
The percussion festival is sponsored by the School of Music and Theatre Arts.
