Faculty Recital- James A. Strain, percussion
James A. Strain, music professor of percussion, will present a faculty recital on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 7:30 pm in Reynolds Recital Hall featuring music by Clair Omar Musser. Musser, considered the founder of the modern concert marimba, was instrumental in the development, design, promotion and early pedagogy for the instrument. Before founding his own company to manufacture mallet percussion instruments, he worked for the J. C. Deagan company as chief engineer, also promoting the instrument with massive orchestras of marimbas touring the United States and Europe. An established musician he composed and arranged numerous compositions for the marimba, being one of the first to do so. In addition to the music of Musser, Strain will be performing several compositions of his own for both marimba and other percussion instruments, such as xylophone, gongs, cymbals, drums, vibraphone and glockenspiel. Dr. Theresa Camilli, pianist, will also be performing with Strain. There is no admission charge for the recital.