Event Briefs for the week of Wednesday, March 11

Classical percussionist visiting WCC

The next “Locals and Legends” series show at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield will be a unique presentation of classical percussion music by Dr. Peter Grubisich 7 p.m. Saturday, March 21.

Using instruments such as the marimba, a variety of drums and even clay flower pots, Grubisich will perform works inspired by the music of Ravel, Stravinsky, the Second Viennese School, and man’s relationship to the natural world.

Classical percussion music traces its roots to the early twentieth century, an era where the industrial revolution and the Great War would remake the economic, political, and social order of the Western World. From this milieu a new generation of artists would come of age, dissatisfied with the rigidity and convention of the waning Victorian epoch and insistent on creating literature, poetry, art, and music that reflected the challenges and uncertainties of the rapidly emerging modern world. Percussion music—noisy, rough, unpolished, and unsophisticated by the standard of the 19^th century—would prove to be the perfect medium for the musical language of the industrial age.

Grubisich currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Eastern New Mexico University where he directs the percussion ensemble, steel band, Greyhound Sound Drumline, and oversees a comprehensive, student-centered percussion program. Before coming to New Mexico, Peter worked as a freelance musician in Central Texas. He previously taught at Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio, Texas, and at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

As a steel pan artist Peter has logged hundreds of performances at venues ranging from farmers markets and middle school gymnasiums to 2,000-seat concert halls. His double tenor playing can be heard on Iowa Percussion’s 2018 album, Jungle Music.

Tickets are $25 for adults with free admission for students (high school and younger) and can be purchased online at warrenculturalcenter.com or at the door.

Fine Arts Night features NV students

Nodaway Valley High School’s annual Fine Arts Night is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 27, at the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield. All aspects of NVHS fine arts will be highlighted.

An art show featuring Aaron Riley’s 9-12th grade students from Art 1, Ceramics, Drawing, Painting and Advanced Art classes will be located in the lower lobby all during the month of March. Most of the works were chosen by the students themselves. Samples of creative writing from students of Karen Guthrie will also be on display.

The program upstairs in the auditorium will highlight musical and drama performances. Students of Abbey Lochmoeller (instrumental) and Nicole Miller (vocal) will perform as solos and in small groups. Speech and drama students also will entertain. Lauren Ernst is their head coach, Sam Grubisich is the assistant coach and Brenda Plymesser is volunteer coach.

Evan Landauer’s FCS students will provide food to sample. An opportunity for a free will donation will be provided.