Percussion duo opens Lee's Performing Arts Series

Dr. Annie Stevens and Dr. Andrea Venet are percussion duo, Escape Ten.
Dr. Annie Stevens and Dr. Andrea Venet are percussion duo, Escape Ten.

Percussion duo Escape Ten will open the Lee University Performing Arts Series today, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall, 340 Church St., in Cleveland, Tenn.

Dr. Annie Stevens and Dr. Andrea Venet, assistant professors of percussion at Virginia Tech and the University of North Florida, respectively, comprise Escape Ten. The pair tours extensively as Malletech artists and have their own publication series through Keyboard Percussion Publications.

Their program will feature works by Stephen Ridley, Steve Danyew, Ivan Trevino, John Psathas, Kelly Rossum, Joe Locke, Michael Burritt and Radiohead, along with pieces by Venet. Passionate about exploring all genres and expressing these creatively through percussion, much of Steven and Venet's repertoire includes innovative arrangements and compositions commissioned by the duo.

Stevens is an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and internationally. She has been featured in performances at the International Computer Music Conference, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the U.S., the Wintergreen Music Festival, the Garth Newell Music Center and the International Trumpet Guild.

Venet, soloist and chamber musician, has performed internationally, taking second prize at the 2013 PAS KoSA Solo Marimba Competition at New York University. She has also been a featured performer with "Saturday Night Live" percussionist Valerie Naranjo, Ivan Trevino, the Lawson Ensemble, Project Trio, the Eastman Percussion and Grammy-winning alternative band Tool.

Tonight's performance is free and open to the public, but tickets are required due to limited seating. Tickets may be obtained in the Dixon Center Box Office from 3 to 6 p.m. today or by calling: 423-614-8343.

Masterclass Friday

Escape Ten will offer a masterclass, open to the public, on Friday, Sept. 1, at 2 p.m. in Pangle Hall, 340 Church St., in Cleveland, Tenn.

Upcoming Events