UVA Percussion Ensemble Presents "A Night of Percussion" Featuring Guest Artist Eric Willie
The University of Virginia Department of Music is proud to present "A Night of Percussion" on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. in the historic Old Cabell Hall. Under the direction of I-Jen Fang, the UVA Percussion Ensemble will be joined by internationally acclaimed percussionist and composer Dr. Eric Willie for an evening spanning avant-garde classics, world premieres, and global rhythms.
The concert features a diverse repertoire that bridges deep philosophical inquiry with rhythmic celebration. A centerpiece of the evening is Edgard Varèse’s Ionisation (1931). Historically significant as the first Western masterpiece composed for a dedicated percussion ensemble, the work utilizes 13 players and 39 instruments—including two sirens and a lion’s roar. Inspired by the scientific process of atoms gaining and losing electrons, the piece was so radical at its 1933 premiere that one critic described it as a "sock in the jaw" to the musical establishment.
Other featured works include:
● World Premiere: The ensemble will debut 606, a new work composed by Dr. Willie specifically for the UVA Percussion Ensemble, built on mathematical permutations of the title.
● Contemplative Solo Work: Austin Keck’s Hollow Horizon features Dr. Willie as a soloist on marimba and snare drum, exploring themes of existential uncertainty.
● Mallet Mastery: Dr. Willie and Director I-Jen Fang will perform the vibraphone and marimba duet Carousel, a legendary piece by the duo Double Image known for its fluid, improvisational structure.
● Global Rhythms: Transitioning to the drumset, Dr. Willie joins the ensemble for the vibrant Banho de Folhas, a celebrated blend of Música Popular Brasileira and Afro-Brazilian spiritual rhythms.
Honoring the UVA Legacy
The program also celebrates the deep roots of the UVA Percussion program. The concert opens with Hoos Forever, composed by alumnus Craig Hunter (’15) to commemorate the ensemble’s 10th anniversary. To further emphasize student achievement, the night includes a percussion quartet by graduating 4th-year Noah Dale and Sudoku by alumnus Cameron Church (’20).
About the Guest Artist
Hailed as “unstoppable,” Eric Willie has presented solo performances throughout three continents and over 30 states. He has performed as soloist with the Tamborimba Ensamble in Cali, Colombia; conducted Edgard Varese’s “Ionisation” at the III Encontro Percussivo in Recife, Pernambuco Brasil; and has been featured as a soloist, clinician, and ensemble director at fourteen Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC), three Midwest Clinics, as well as numerous Days of Percussion and music educator conventions.
As a 2022 Fulbright Scholar in Recife, Pernambuco, Eric immersed himself in the tradition of Maracatu, performing with the group Quebra Baque while conducting research on the genre. During this time, he served as a Regency Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and was Artistic Director of the LapTop Percussion Ensemble for the V Encontro Percussivo.
Active within the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Eric was recently voted to serve on the PAS Board of Advisors. Previously, he served as Chair of the International Percussion Ensemble Committee, where he led the establishment of the annual Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition and the All-Star International Percussion Ensemble. His percussion ensembles have been named winners of the 2015 and 2020 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition, and his students have been named winners of the marimba solo, as well as timpani solo, competitions.
In the marching arts, Eric is a currently a Percussion Consultant with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Previously, he has worked with the percussion sections of The Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Spirit, and Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps, as well as Music City Mystique.
Eric’s solo compositions and educational books have been published by Musicon Publications, Ox and Lamb, TapSpace, and Row-Loff. With the latter, his co-authored book, All-Inclusive Audition Etudes, has been adopted for use by various music educator associations. He recently contributed a chapter to Rehearsing the Concert and Marching Percussion Ensemble (GIA Publications), and has additionally authored articles for Percussive Notes, Rhythm! Scene, TAMA/Bergerault, Innovative Percussion, and Music and Arts.
Eric currently serves as Professor of Percussion Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Provost Fellow, and as a member of the percussion sections of the Winston-Salem Symphony and the New Hampshire Music Festival.
About the UVA Percussion Ensemble
Directed by I-Jen Fang, Principal Timpanist/Percussionist of the Charlottesville Symphony, the ensemble has been a cornerstone of the UVA music scene since 2005. The 19-member group performs a vast range of literature, from intricate chamber music to large-scale orchestral percussion works. The current members of the UVA Percussion Ensemble are River Bolden, Daniel Burbano, Noah Dale, Helen Dunn, Cason Duszak, Nic Faulds, Ryan Healy, Eva Houston, Emerson Lee, Graham Longhofer, Charles Meyersberg, Luci Nguyen, Connor Rogers, Matthew Rusten, Yona Sankar, Milen Satish, Rasmi Tangirala, Bryce Taylor, and Thomas Worden.
Tickets are $10 / $9 UVA Faculty & Staff / $5 students /Free for UVA Students who reserve in advance. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the UVA Arts Box Office and are sold at the door beginning one hour prior to start time. UVA students please reserve your free student ticket 24 hours in advance through the UVA Student Arts Dollars portal.
This event is supported by the Eleanor Shea Music Trust.
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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Tickets can be purchased in advance through the UVA Arts Box Office and are usually sold at the door beginning one hour prior to start time.
All events are subject to change.