Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra

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courtesy WYSO

A Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras percussion ensemble.

media release: The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) Percussion Ensemble will mount its annual 2024 Percussion Extravaganza concert at 1pm on Saturday, April 20, at the Middleton Performing Arts Center. Under the direction of Vicki Peterson Jenks, this year’s concert, “Lasting Hope,” will be performed by several WYSO ensembles, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Chamber Percussion and World Percussion Ensembles, and will feature Madison-based drummer, Elmore Lawson, and an exciting world premiere performance by The Isthmus Handpan Quartet.

“While thinking about possible guest artists for this year’s Extravaganza, I happened upon a series of videos on YouTube created by Isthmus Instruments – the company that makes the instruments played by The Isthmus Handpan Quartet,” said Vicki Peterson Jenks. “And lo and behold, I see that Robert Rockman, a celebrated dancer and WYSO alum, was playing with the ensemble. Robert has a heart of gold, and I felt immediately from what I knew of Robert’s artistry as a dancer, and how he articulates his approach to the handpan, that the Quartet had to be among this year’s guest artists.”

Among a collection of several original pieces, The Isthmus Handpan Quartet will be joined by the WYSO Percussion Ensemble to perform the world premiere of Tapestry, composed by Rockman. “This is the very first time that the handpan will be used in a traditional percussion ensemble without it being a featured soloist,” Rockman expressed. “Tapestry explores the different textures of a traditional percussion ensemble and how the melodic and percussive sides of music can be woven together to create something beautiful that can’t be realized by any one instrument alone.”

Additionally, the Extravaganza will spotlight a world premiere composed by Music Maker Percussion Instructor, Bradley Fremder, titled Passing Time, performed in-collaboration with the Music Makers Percussion Ensemble.

And in tribute to the memory of those lost to cancer and all cancer survivors, this year all participating ensembles will come together for a special performance of Song of Hope, composed by Peter Aloysius Meechan.

For the third year in a row, WYSO is partnering with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County to provide a percentage of ticket sales to the organization.

Ticket & Event Details

Date: April 20^th, 2024

Time: 1pm – 3pm

Location: Middleton Performing Arts Center

Concert tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for youth 18 and under. Purchase online at wysomusic.org/concerts-events