BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - How awesome is this? NBC's Saturday Night Live Band percussionist Valerie Naranjo will join the Virginia Tech jazz and percussion ensembles in November.
The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 in the Squires Student Center's Old Dominion Ballroom.
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Virginia Tech officials say Naranjo has played with the Saturday Night Live Band since 1995, where she holds the position of percussion chair. She has performed for the Broadway production of "The Lion King," as well as with other notable musicians including Tori Amos, David Byrne, the Philip Glass Ensemble, and the Paul Winter Consort.
"Valerie is incredibly invested in bringing this music into our culture," said Annie Stevens, assistant professor of percussion, in a written release. "Naranjo's West African marimba style is very different from the traditions of marimba performance in Western music. There are layers of rhythms within her arrangements that create a different kind of challenge. For the music student studying in the Western tradition, Stevens says Naranjo will bring "a special and unique view to the way we learn."
Naranjo will be featured with the Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Annie Stevens, as well as on one piece with the Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of faculty member Jason Crafton.
Naranjo's residency at Virginia Tech is made possible by the Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Lecture Series, the Bruce Carver Multicultural Grant, and the School of Performing Arts.
Tickets are $10 general/$7 student, and may be purchased through the Squires ticket office, or by calling 540-231-5615.
Tickets will also be available at the box office beginning one hour prior to the performance.