Percussion Soloist Performs at Baylor as Part of the Lyceum Series

by Lauren Venegas, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

The Baylor University School of Music will continue the 2008 Lyceum Concert Series with Michael Burritt, percussion soloist and professor of percussion at The Eastman School of Music. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Jones Concert Hall in the Glennis McCrary Music Building on the Baylor Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Burritt is one of the world's leading percussion soloists, traveling on concert tours and master classes throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. He has three solo recordings, "Perpetual," "Shadow Chasers" and "Waking Dreams."

He also has been a featured artist at seven Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. 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.
Burritt composed two concertos, numerous solo and chamber works for marimba and percussion and two books of etudes. He also 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.
"He is much acclaimed in three areas, as a performing musician, as a composer and as a teacher. All three facets of his talent will touch our students and be an opportunity for the audience to experience a world-class performer," said Richard Veit, concert and promotions manager for the Baylor School of Music.
In addition to the performance, the Baylor music school students will be able to gain valuable insight from Burritt at a master class the same day, Saturday, Nov. 22, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Jones Concert Hall.
Veit said The Lyceum Concert Series was initiated at Baylor in 1976. Since 1980 it has been funded annually through the generosity of the Meadows Foundation of Dallas.
"The focus of the Lyceum Concert Series is on education," Veit said.
For more information on the Lyceum Concert Series, call the Baylor School of Music at (254) 710-4200.