Ju Percussion Group presents percussion without limits

With breathtaking precision, physical intensity, and an extraordinary range of instruments, Taiwan's Ju Percussion Group brings contemporary percussion music to life through rhythm, melody, and movement. The internationally acclaimed ensemble performs “Energy ∞ Infinite” at the Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m., featuring a new composition co-commissioned by the center.

One of Asia's most influential contemporary percussion ensembles, Ju Percussion Group is known for its exceptional virtuosity and innovative integration of Eastern and Western musical traditions. “Energy ∞ Infinite” draws from a repertoire of 287 works commissioned specifically for the ensemble over the past four decades, including a new composition co-commissioned by the Center for the Arts.

Rooted in contemporary Western percussion music and interwoven with elements of traditional Eastern culture, the program incorporates modern, experimental, and cross-disciplinary approaches incorporating classical, contemporary, world, and popular music. The result showcases percussion's extraordinary expressive power and creative vitality.

Among the featured works is “Voices Through Time,” a new composition by acclaimed percussionist and composer Michael Burritt, co-commissioned by the Center for the Arts and Ju Percussion Group in celebration of the ensemble's 40th anniversary. Fresh from its world premiere in Indianapolis at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the work unfolds in four parts, its title a metaphor for the expression Ju Percussion Group has given to percussion throughout its history.

The program also features an arrangement of “The First Circle,” a composition by Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny and longtime collaborator Lyle Mays. Beginning with a series of simple handclaps, the work builds toward an explosive climax, revealing the expressive power of rhythm.

Other selections draw inspiration from Taiwanese culture. Chiung-Ying Chang's “Solar Myth” is inspired by a legend shared by several Indigenous tribes of Taiwan, in which people attempt to shoot extra suns from the sky. The performers’ movements evoke the ancient struggle, creating a sense of theatrical tension.

In Han-Yen Kao's “Tsá-Tshi,” seven performers portray different stalls in a bustling outdoor market. Through nimble, playful movements and rhythms, the musicians capture the sights, sounds, and spirit of community life in Taiwan.

Founded in 1986 by percussionist Tzong-Ching Ju as Taiwan’s first professional percussion ensemble, Ju Percussion Group has played a significant role in advancing contemporary percussion music in Taiwan and internationally. At a time when the genre was unfamiliar to many Taiwanese audiences, the group helped establish a new musical tradition that has since reached audiences around the world.

Today, the ensemble includes 20 professional percussionists and three composers-in-residence. It has presented more than 3,500 performances in 37 countries, commissioned hundreds of original compositions, and introduced nearly 160,000 learners to percussion through its education programs.

Ju, who was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society's Hall of Fame in 2016, has also expanded opportunities for percussion education and international artistic exchange through the Ju Percussion Music School and Taiwan International Percussion Convention.

Supported in part by a gift from Ms. Jennifer F. Spoon with additional funding provided by the Charles and Dorothy Lambert Endowment for the Arts, the performance is co-sponsored by the APIDA + Center (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American).

Related activities

While at Virginia Tech, Ju Percussion Group will attend a learning dinner hosted by the APIDA + Center, coach Virginia Tech student percussionists in master classes, and lead hands-on learning activities with students enrolled in Music as Global Culture.

Additionally, community members will enjoy a pre-show meal and complimentary tickets to the performance through the Center for the Arts Community VIP Ticket program, in partnership with New River Community Action.

Tickets

Tickets are $25-60 for general audience and $10 for students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Center for the Arts box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.

Venue and parking information

The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jonathan Boulter at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email jboulter@vt.edu during regular business hours.  

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