Burritt to Open Performing Arts Series
The Lee University School of Music will welcome Michael Burritt, professor of percussion and department head at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., for the first Performing Arts Series concert of the season. The performance will take place on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m. in the Dixon Center.
The Lee University Percussion Ensemble, directed by assistant professor of music Dr. Andy Harnsberger, will perform with Burritt.
Having performed on four continents and nearly 40 states, Burritt is one of the world’s leading percussion soloists. He regularly gives master classes and performs concert tours throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. He is a contributing editor for Percussive Notes magazine, a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) board of directors, and the chairman of the PAS keyboard committee.
Burritt is an artist, clinician, and product design consultant for Malletech, where he has developed his own line of signature marimba mallets, and an artist and educational clinician with the Zildjian Company.
Burritt has been a featured artist at seven PAS International Conventions, as well as a soloist with numerous symphonies and performing groups worldwide. In 1992 he presented his New York solo debut in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and in 1998 performed his London debut in the Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Called “one of the greatest marimbists of our time,” Burritt has produced three solo recordings: “Perpetual,” “Shadow Chasers,” and “Walking Dreams.” Each recording contains Burritt’s original compositions as well as works written expressly for him. He is an active composer who has written two concertos, numerous solo and chamber works for marimba and percussion, and two books of etudes. Burritt’s works for solo marimba have become standard repertoire that is frequently required at international competitions.
The concert is free of charge and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, Oct. 8. To reserve a ticket, contact the Lee University Dixon Center Box Office, open 3-6 p.m. daily, at (423) 614-8343.
Burritt will also be giving a master class on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 3-5 p.m. in the Dixon Center. The master class will feature students from the studio of Harnsberger. This event is free and open to the public.
For more information about the Performing Arts Series or other music events, contact the School of Music at (423) 614-8240.
