Chara Percussion Ensemble Performs Pair Of Concerts

The Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center in Brewster will present a pair of concerts by Orleans-based Chara Percussion Ensemble on Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26, at 7:30 p.m.

The concert, titled “Passage to An Uncharted World,” invites the audience to embark on a musical journey from the graceful dances of European impressionists like Ravel and Dvorak, to the rich tapestry of American contemporary composers including Michael Burritt, Christopher Deane, Steve Reich and Austin Keck. Throughout the performance, the members of Chara will delve into a vibrant sonic landscape that mirrors humanity’s adventures, joys, trials and moments of introspection, all illuminated by the evocative sounds of mallet percussion and ethnic drums.

The Chara Percussion Ensemble, which takes its name from a Greek word meaning “finding joy despite circumstance,” is made up of alumni, members and associates of Spirit Winter Percussion, a world-renowned competitive indoor percussion ensemble recognized for bringing subtlety and complexity to the art of keyboard percussion. With over 100 years of combined percussion ensemble experience, members of Chara bring a fresh voice to classical repertoire through percussion ensemble, exploring music ranging from early polyphony to classical, impressionist and contemporary works. The ensemble’s growing repertoire includes works by J.S. Bach, Bartok, Bruckner, Byrd, Deane, Debussy, Dvorak, Eben, Gjelo, Hale, Krasa, Leontovych, Handel, Merulo, Mozart, Pergolesi, Piazzolla, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Trevino, Vivaldi and Westlake.

Members of the Chara Percussion Ensemble have performed internationally, traveling to Australia, Canada, Italy, South Korea and South Africa, as well as in venues across the United States. Some of the ensemble’s international performance highlights have included the Seoul Opera House in South Korea, Johannesburg Opera House in South Africa, and the Siena and Pisa Cathedrals in Italy. Closer to home, the ensemble has performed at the University of Dayton Arena and in Gillette Stadium as well as at the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans. Members of Chara performed John Luther Adams’ “Inuksuit” with over 90 other percussionists at The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in 2018.

In addition to performance, members of Chara have taught percussion to middle, high school and college-age levels, as well as independent percussion ensembles, marching bands and drum corps in the United States and Canada, as well as workshops in South Africa.

The Performing Arts Center is located at 95 Southern Eagle Cartway in Brewster. For more information or to purchase tickets visit artsempoweringlife.org or call 508-240-2400. Admission is free for students and youth.