On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the Ohio University Percussion Club hosted “A Night at the Movies,” a night dedicated to performing covers of a range of songs from popular movies, including “The Greatest Showman,” “Star Wars” and “Interstellar.”
The event showed a youthfulness due to it being completely student-organized. The majority of the medleys were arranged by the performing students. Notably, Caden Potter, a graduate student studying piano, arranged four of the seven compositions.
Various students conducted the performances, including students switching instruments and roles in the performance. The event emphasized a strong sense of community amongst the students, making the experience visibly exciting for the audience.
The work and dedication to curating the event were palpable; the skill the percussionists demonstrated shone brightly in the performance, making it mesmerizing to viewers.
Watching the focus on their faces, as the mallets moved with precision, showcased their determination throughout the entire performance. Not only that, but the rhythm and movement of the performers elevated their performance, allowing the audience to see how much fun they were having.
At one point during a “Pirates of the Caribbean” medley, one of the male performers loudly shouted “ARGH” and started miming a sword fight while using his drumsticks as the sword. The conductor played into it with her movements, making it look as if they were dueling each other. This was a creative addition to the song, provoking laughter from the audience.
Two young women performed a duet of the main theme from the 2014 Sci-Fi film “Interstellar.” While the original song is written to be performed by more than two people, the two performers executed it well, capturing the audience’s attention. The two players showcased their skill level by holding two mallets in each hand to play the music.
All of the performers in “A Night at the Movies” performed skillfully, some not majoring in a music-related field. OUPC is not just for music majors; it is for anyone who enjoys percussion.
OUPC also includes skilled piano player Ryan Russo, the club’s president. Piano was incorporated into their performances, as it is a percussion instrument, also making use of other percussion instruments like vibraphones, marimbas and xylophones. They also use various types of drums, including a drum set, in their music.
The group utilized various percussion instruments, and even non-conventional ones like hand clapping, to create the different medleys. The medley of “The Lion King,” for example, included rattles that go along with the African music. The audience got to clap along as the performers hand-clapped, which was an innovative way to incorporate the audience into the performance.
OUPC’s “A Night at the Movies” was an engaging experience for audience goers. The performers as well as the audience left with smiles on their faces, setting the tone for future OUPC events.
