April 15, 2009

Purdue percussion group to pay tribute to longtime professor

The group's annual concert pays tribute to Maxine Lefever, who worked for Purdue Bands for 25 years. Admission is free.

Lefever lost her battle with cancer in 2004 at age 73. From her arrival at Purdue in 1962 until her retirement in 1987, she took charge of the marching band's drum line; helped organize and traveled extensively on national and international tours with the Purdue Bands; and served former director Al G. Wright as an administrative assistant.

Through her estate, Lefever also established endowments for percussion activities as well as a student award for outstanding percussionists. 

Three of the many pieces Lefever arranged or composed for Purdue percussionists will be featured at the concert – a marimba ensemble titled "Tico Tico" and two pieces she wrote for cymbal, snare and bass called "San Luis" and "Mancous."

Along with the Lefever works, Pamela J. Nave, Purdue Bands' percussion specialist, will direct the group in a variety of pieces for drum ensembles. The concert also will spotlight two guest soloists, a guest ensemble, and compositions created by student percussionists, including Bonyea Killebrew, Keven Tsai, Lindsay Surmacz and Brian Leathers.

As a guest performer, Twana Harris, director of the Black Voices of Inspiration, will sing "Somewhere" from "West Side Story" with accompaniment by Nave. Amanda Hampton, a dancer with the Purdue Repertory Dance Company and coach for the Golden Silks flag corps, will be the featured dancer in "Metheny Dream."

Writer: Christy Jones, 765-494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, 765-496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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