Percussion Concerto Directed, Performed by Music Professors

When Rick Fleming, associate professor of music, makes his debut as conductor at Kleinhans Music Hall on Wednesday, November 16, the audience can expect a virtuoso performance by three of Western New York’s leading percussionists: Mark Hodges, principal percussionist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Jim Tiller, principal percussionist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; and Brad Fuster, percussionist and chair of Buffalo State’s Music Department. The Buffalo State Wind Ensemble, which Fleming directs, is made up of Buffalo State students.

“We will be featuring a percussion concerto, The Glory and the Grandeur, by Russell Peck,” said Fleming. “It’s unusual because, in most compositions, percussionists accompany the wind instruments. In this piece, the wind accompanies the percussion.” For this work, the percussionists will play two kinds of drums, several keyboard instruments, and other percussion instruments including opera gongs and cymbals.

Fuster, who plays with both the BPO and the RPO, is looking forward to this performance because the piece by Peck demands not just musical virtuosity but also considerable gymnastics as the percussionists move around the stage to play the assortment of instruments. “It’s a visual performance as well as a musical performance,” said Fuster. “Audiences love it.”

Whenever Fleming discusses the classical music he loves, his enthusiasm is contagious. “In this piece,” he said, “the winds play in the style of a percussion section, with accents and syncopated figures. There’s almost a pop feeling to it. If you played in bands in the ’70s, you’ll recognize the musical language: it’s up-tempo, it’s flashy, and it demands a virtuosic technique from the soloists.” The concert, part of the Faculty and Friends Concert Series 2011-2012, will be held at Kleinhans because the set up for the percussionists is too large for the series’ usual venue, the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.

Fleming, who has conducted at the University of Szeged in Hungary and judged at the Tyberg Music Festival in South Africa, is thrilled to be taking the stage at Kleinhans. “Of course, it’s a wonderful hall acoustically,” he said. “To be playing where Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Bernstein, and JoAnne Falletta have played is thrilling. And my students are completely psyched about it.”

But are they ready for it?

“They are going to be fine,” said Fleming. “I’ve learned that, if I have high expectations of my students, they rise to the occasion.”

The concert will be held Wednesday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m. All students with ID will be admitted free at the door. Tickets ($10) can be purchased at the door or in advance from the box offices for the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State by phone, online, or in person. The box offices are located in Rockwell Hall and the Campbell Student Union, both at Buffalo State.