Dr. Blake Tyson (left) and Clif Walker are guest artists during the MWSU Percussion Ensemble Festival April 25.

Missouri Western State University’s Department of Music will host a Percussion Ensemble Festival on Tuesday, April 25 in the Fulkerson Center. All performances are free and open to the public.

The festival begins at 2:30 p.m. and features Dr. Blake Tyson, professor of percussion at the University of Central Arkansas; Clif Walker, music designer for Gateway Percussion; and percussion ensembles from Platte County High School, directed by Jon Bailey; Park Hill High School, directed by Brian Burlingame; Central High School, directed by Chad Lippincott; and Missouri Western, directed by Dr. Joshua Knight.

The final performance of the festival will be the MWSU Percussion Ensemble featuring guest artist Blake Tyson at 7:30 p.m.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.