LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 22, 2008) The University of Kentucky Chamber Percussion Group has been invited to perform at Focus Day, an opening event presented as part of the 2008 Percussive Arts Society International Convention to be held Nov. 5, in Austin, Texas. The UK Chamber Percussion Group is one of only two university ensembles invited to perform at Focus Day.

Following this year's theme for Focus Day, "Out of Africa: African Influence in Contemporary Percussion Music," the five member ensemble from UK will perform two works, "Aberinkula I," a composition by UK doctoral student Kyle Forsthoff, and "Kalabash," by Nigel Westlake.

The Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) showcases the finest percussion artists from all over the world. The convention highlights all areas of percussion, including drumset, marching, keyboard, symphonic, world, recreational, education, music technology, new music and wellness.

The students performing as part of the UK Chamber Percussion Group are: doctoral students Ben Stiers, Brian Nozny, Kyle Forsthoff and Brad Meyer, and junior Alex Harmon. All five members are students of James Campbell, a Provost's Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Music.

Group members are very excited about the invitation to perform at this upcoming convention. "Getting the opportunity to perform at PASIC is without a doubt one of the biggest honors a percussionist can obtain," said group member Alex Harmon. "Being able to be a part of the world-class UK percussion studio and getting the opportunity to perform two years in a row is an honor that cannot be summed into words. I am extremely excited about this opportunity to once again represent the percussion studio and UK." Harmon previously performed with the UK Percussion Ensemble, who was invited to perform at the 2007 PASIC after winning at three annual Percussive Arts Society International Collegiate Percussion Ensemble Competitions in a row.