Northwest bands welcome special guests during upcoming concerts

Northwest bands welcome special guests during upcoming concerts
Written by LaJuan Tallo
Wednesday, 10 April 2013 17:48
The Northwest Mississippi Community College Percussion Ensemble and Steel Bands will
present concerts the week of April 22 in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Senatobia campus. The
groups are under the direction of John Ungurait, director of Bands.
The Percussion Ensemble will perform a concert on Monday, April 22 at 7 p.m. Concert pieces
include “Bayport Sketch,” “C-Jam Blues,” “Echoes of Babylon,” “Casper’s Lullaby” and “Drum
Machine.”
On Tuesday, April 23, the Fine Arts Department will present “The Next Level” Drum Set Clinic,
featuring Jeremy K. Freelon, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Northwest
Alumnus Freelon, a native of Bruce, began playing the drums at the age of three, and by the
age of eight was playing at his home church. He traveled with gospel artist The Bonner Brothers
for four years. He earned his degree in music education from The University of Mississippi and
is currently the assistant director of bands and director of percussion studies at Lafayette
County Schools in Oxford. The clinic is free to the public.
Wednesday evening, April 24, the Northwest Steel Band, featuring special guest percussionist
Ricky Micou, will perform at 7 p.m. Micou, also an Alumnus of Northwest, spent several years
performing all over the world in the renowned Navy Steel Drum Band. He holds a bachelor’s
degree in music education from Mississippi Valley State University and a master’s in music from
Southern Illinois University. Currently Micou performs as a steel pan soloist and with his
Caribbean jazz group.
In addition, the Steel Band concert will also feature Ricky Burkhead, director of percussion
studies at The University of Mississippi, Jonathan Bass, Northwest guitar instructor and Jeff
Triplett, assistant director of Bands at Northwest. Featured songs at the concert include Van
Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett, and “I Love Lucy.”
Guest appearances are sponsored by Sycamore Arts. “We are so grateful for their support this
year and in the past,” Ungurait said. “They promote the arts in the community in such a special
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Northwest bands welcome special guests during upcoming concerts
Written by LaJuan Tallo
Wednesday, 10 April 2013 17:48
way, and we appreciate their support of our programs here at Northwest.”
The concerts are free to the public. For more information, contact Ungurait at 662-562-3335 or
e-mail jbungurait@northwestms.edu.
Pictured: Sophomore Nelson Baker of Senatobia plays during a Northwest Steel Band
performance. (Photo by LaJuan Tallo)
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