ACU’s Department of Music will present the Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band Spring Concert at 8 p.m. on April 18 in Cullen Auditorium

Admission is free for everyone and the performance will feature a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz-inspired music for marimba quartet, steel band music from Trinidad and Samba Reggae music from Salvador, Brazil.

“This style of music has an incredibly infectious groove,” said Allen Teel, percussion and world music professor.

The concert will feature 20 ACU student percussionists and guest performer Dr. Julie Hill, director of percussion studies at the University of Tennessee at Martin. The Abilene High School Steel Band will also be making a guest appearance during the concert.

“We just got a full set of Brazilian instruments a few weeks ago, and we are very excited to present this music to our audience for the first time,” Teel said.

Teel said the Abilene High School Steel Band will perform with the ACU Steel Band on two selections. They will also join ACU for the concert finale, “Rudi’s Batuque,” written by Hill.

“It will be a blast to have 40 percussionists playing at once,” Teel said. “It should bring the house down.”

Teel said his musicians began preparing for this concert in January.

“I appreciate the ensemble members’ willingness to put in extra rehearsal time,” Teel said. “They have fantastic attitudes, and they’re motivated to perform this music to the best of their ability.”

Jake Hall, freshman music education major from Springtown, said he likes watching people have fun at concerts and enjoy the music.

“I like playing music because it’s stress-free and upbeat,” Hall said

For more information, call 325-674-2199.