P-U-R-P-L-E: An Evening of Contemporary Classical Music

Presented at NAU School of Music’s Ardrey Auditorium, P-U-R-P-L-E combines contemporary dance, amplified typewriter, spliced Beyoncé, body percussion, a canvas art display, and rock n’ roll synthesizer in an imaginative contemporary music performance.

The concert features six eclectic world-premieres composed by current and former NAU School of Music students, each bringing something fresh and exciting to the table.

In addition to guest dancers Sandra Sherer (Las Vegas) and Melissa Averett (Kingman), and the work of local visual artist, Eugene Brosseau, twenty-two of NAU’s top School of Music musicians will take the stage in unique and truly novel combinations.

Works By:

Kevin Austin—a retro, minimalist piece with typewriter rhythms and stories; performed by saxophone and percussion students and Jonathan Bergeron (Associate Professor of Saxophone at NAU)

Owen Davis—an integrated multi-medium work for saxophone and vibraphone, contemporary ballet dancers, and visual artwork

Jordan Lewis—a quartet for the world’s most primitive instrument: body percussion

Simon Nissen—ensemble accompanied by spliced Beyoncé and back beat soul

Liza Stegall—a grungy, metal-like improvisation equipped with ipads and distorted classical instrumentalists

Drew Worden—cello, viola, piano, sax, percussion, and synth; a groovy, energetic and rhythm-riveting sensation