October 18, 2005 – Sylvia Bierschenk

Guest marimba recital

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present Michael Varner in a guest marimba recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the Music Recital Hall of the Wright Music Building.

Varner, professor of percussion at the University of Arlington, has established a national reputation for solo recitals and guest appearances with orchestras, wind ensembles and percussion ensembles, according to Scott Harris, SFA's director of percussion studies. The Nacogdoches concert is part of a tour that includes performances in Lake Charles and Lafayette, La., Tyler and Wichita Falls.

Varner's program of commissioned works for marimba includes two pieces written by world-renowned marimba player Keiko Abe and two works by Akira Miyoshi. Varner will also play two works he commissioned--Richard Nye's "Susvar" and George Chave's "Strike!" a 1994 composition inspired by the Major League Baseball strike.

Varner has been a member of the music faculty at the University of Arlington for 25 years. He received his doctoral degree from the University of North Texas and his master's degree from the University of Michigan. Both degrees were in percussion performance. His bachelor's degree in music is from Bowling Green State University.

Admission to the concert is free. For more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.