Professors practice what they preach to students

Percussion and saxophone are an unlikely combination, but associate professor of music Christopher Kocher and director of percussion studies Darin Wadley will bring the two together at their faculty recital on Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Colton Recital Hall.

“I like working with Dr. Kocher,” Wadley said. “We’ve been talking about (doing a recital together) for a long time; we just haven’t gotten around to actually scheduling a concert. We’ve played jazz before at one of his recitals, but we haven’t actually played classical music together. It’s just another opportunity to play

together.”

Kocher also said doing faculty recitals is not only a research opportunity, but also an opportunity to have fun and let the students learn from listening to them play.

Senior saxophone player Keith Nelson said he is excited to hear Kocher and Wadley play together.

“Dr. Kocher and Dr. Wadley are certainly magnificent players,” Nelson said. “They’ve played together before so they know each other’s mannerisms, how to cue off of each other and how to play together.”

The music played at the recital will display a wide range of styles, including classical and jazz, but most of the music will have a more modern tone.

“In the scope of things, the saxophone is a relatively new instrument, so a lot of the music is composed in a more modern way,” Kocher said.

While classical and jazz music will be displayed, some funk and even techno music will be played at the recital. “Divertimento,” which was written by a Japanese composer and features the marimba, is expected to be one of the recital’s best pieces, Wadley said. Another song in particular, titled “Plus 8,” will feature saxophone and the drum set and is inspired by Detroit techno music.

“It’s a really fun, cool piece and it’s definitely one of my favorites,” Wadley said.

Kocher and Wadley said they are both excited about putting the concert together and seeing the audience’s reactions to such diverse music.

“We’re having a lot of fun putting it together,” Kocher said. “People will enjoy it because there’s something for everything with such a wide variety of music.”

Reach reporter Stephanie Fischer at [email protected].