The Buffalo State Percussion Ensemble plays Wednesday, November 17, at the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. The college’s West African Drumming Ensemble will make a special guest appearance.

The percussion ensemble concert will feature works by Michael Colgrass, David Gillingham, Phillip Glass, Morton Gould, Susan Powell, and Edgard Varese.

The mission of the Buffalo State Percussion Ensemble, directed by Brad Fuster, chair and associate professor of music, is to expose students and the local community to sophisticated repertoire written or transcribed for percussion instruments. The group commonly makes use of standard percussion instruments, such as timpani, mallet keyboard instruments, tom toms, cymbals and gongs, but also employs sounds generated by found objects.

As experienced at President Podolesfsky's inauguration, West African Drumming Ensemble performances include traditional song, dance, and costume. The ensemble, , directed by Tiffany Nicely, lecturer of music, is open to all Buffalo State students, faculty and staff, plus community members.

The program is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (716) 878-6401.