Join the UVA Department of Music for an exhilarating evening of contemporary percussion as the Faculty Artist Series presents a percussion duo composed of I-Jen Fang and Ming-Hui Kuo, joined by friends Isabelle Hubbard and George Kolodsick. The concert takes place on Saturday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall and is sponsored by the UVA Arts Council, enriching the arts on grounds.
The concert showcases a dynamic selection of 21st-century works for keyboard percussion that highlight complex polyrhythms, evocative soundscapes, and virtuoso interplay:
● Phillip Richardson: Transmigration (c. 2010) — A lush marimba quartet exploring composite textures, harmonic resonance, and the reflective power of music.
● Hsiao-Lan Wang: Before Sunrise (2012) — An intimate, dialogue-driven work painting
the damp stillness and omnipresent swell of ocean waves before dawn.
● Emmanuel Séjourné: Departures (2005) — A marimba duet bridging a warm, melancholic chorale with a high-octane Latin dance.
● Emmanuel Séjourné: Gotan Concerto (2016) — A thrilling three-movement tour de force blending classical structures with tango grooves, meditative rolling textures, and expansive desert polyrhythms.
About the Performers:
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Described as an “intrepid percussionist” by Fanfare Magazine, I-Jen Fang is aninternational soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and educator. Since 2005, she has served on the faculty at the University of Virginia and as Principal Timpanist and Percussionist of the Charlottesville Symphony. I-Jen holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, and the University of North Texas. Co-founder of the Piedmont Duo with Ayn Balija (viola), she has collaborated with artists including Keiko Abe and DaCapo Chamber Players. Her global appearances span stages across North America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa, featuring at festivals like PASIC, SEAMUS, NYCEMF, and DrumFest. She is an artist for Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Marimba One.
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Ming-Hui Kuo is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at DePauw University. She is a former intern performing member of the Ju Percussion Group from 1993 to 2002. During her time with JPG, she performed in hundreds of concerts, including the Annual seasonal concerts at Taiwan National Concert Hall and the Taipei International Percussion Convention, and international performances with JPG, including engagements in China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao, Spain, Hungary, Australia, Canada, and the United States. She holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Morehead State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance degree from the University of Kentucky. Kuo is an endorser of Yamaha Percussion, Innovative Percussion, Remo Drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals.
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Isabelle Hubbard (previously known as Isabelle Huang) was born and raised in Taiwan. She earned her Bachelor of Music at Taipei National University of the Arts, studying with Dr. Pei-Ching Wu and performing with Ju Percussion Group 2. She completed her graduate studies in the U.S., receiving her M.M. from Ithaca College under Prof. Gordon Stout and her D.M.A. from Bowling Green State University under Dr. Roger Schupp. A three-time concerto competition winner renowned for her expressive, lyrical style, she served as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Percussion at BGSU from 2007 to 2016 before transitioning to aviation. Isabelle is now a Boeing 777 First Officer for United Airlines and continues to perform and teach at her leisure.
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George Kolodsick is a percussionist currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Performance at Ithaca College, studying under Dr. Mike Truesdell. Originally from Greenwood, Indiana, Kolodsick holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts from DePauw University, graduating in May 2026. A winner of DePauw’s annual Concerto competition in both 2024 and 2026, Kolodsick has performed multiple movements of Emmanuel Séjourné’s “Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra” with the DePauw University Orchestra. He has a particular affinity for the sound of the marimba and consistently performs solo and ensemble repertoire by composers such as Keiko Abe, Pius Cheung, Michael Burritt, and Ney Rosauro on the instrument. Kolodsick was a part of the Indiana Intercollegiate Band and also often performs as a section percussionist with the Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra. He is thrilled to support I-Jen Fang and Ming-Hui Kuo in their duo recital.
The Faculty Artist Series showcases the extraordinary artistry of the University of Virginia Department of Music's faculty through performances that span a wide range of musical styles, traditions, and creative collaborations. Visit here to see all concerts in the UVA Faculty Artist Series
Tickets: $15 General / $13 UVA Faculty & Staff / $5 Students / Free for UVA Students who reserve 24 hours in advance / Free for students under 18.
Tickets are available at the UVA Arts Box Office by calling 434.924.3376, or by visiting artsboxoffice.virginia.edu. Individual tickets will also be available at the door one hour prior to the concert. UVA students need to reserve their tickets 24 hours in advance at the UVA Arts Box Office student ticket portal.
Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of UVA's historic lawn, directly opposite the Rotunda. For parking options, please visit our Directions and Parking page.
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