Percussion artist Bob Becker to appear at Fredonia

Bob Becker, a founding member of the percussion ensemble Nexus and a virtuoso on xylophone, marimba and tabla, will conduct two workshops and give a concert at Fredonia during a three-day visit in late January.

The presentation “Xylophone History” will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., in Rosch Recital Hall. “Understanding and Performing the Music of Steve Reich,” a combination workshop/presentation that includes audience participation, will be held on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 to 4 p.m., also in Rosch.

Mr. Becker’s concert on Monday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m., in Rosch, will feature the marimba, xylophone and a percussion solo. Student members of Fredonia’s Percussion Guild will accompany Becker during the concert.

Becker’s workshop/presentations and concert, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by the Fredonia Student Association and Percussion Guild.

As an undergraduate at the Eastman School of Music, Becker was awarded the school’s prestigious Performer’s Certificate for his concerto performance with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He holds a B.M. with Distinction and a M.A., both from Eastman, where he studied percussion with William G. Street and John H. Beck, and composition with Warren Benson and Aldo Provenzano.

Becker devoted four years to post-graduate study in the World Music program at Wesleyan University, where he became intensively involved with the music cultures of North and South India, Africa and Indonesia.

In his role with Toronto-based Nexus, Becker, who was born in Allentown, Pa., has been involved with the collection and construction of a unique multi-cultural body of instruments as well as the development of an extensive and eclectic repertoire of chamber and concerto works for percussion.