Sept. 17, 2009

Project trio

Contributed photo.

Community 'Project' performance

by Erin Rosacker

Project, a three-piece ensemble from Brooklyn, N.Y., visits campus Sept. 22-24 as the Iowa State Center's artists-in-residence. The trio will wrap up its visit with a Sept. 24 performance in Music's Tye Hall (7:30 p.m.).

"Tye is a more intimate venue," said Sara Compton, outreach coordinator at the Iowa State Center. "It will be a fun night."

Project has utilized the internet to gain popularity. Check out these videos featuring a beatbox flute solo and a group performance.

Although described as a chamber trio -- Greg Pattillo on flute, Eric Stephenson on cello and Peter Seymour on bass -- the group blends its classical training with a diverse mix of music styles, including jazz, theme songs and modern pop. Pattillo's beatbox flute skills use vocal percussion for a hip-hop sound.

Their energy-infused performance is not the only excitement Project brings to Ames. As artists-in-residence, the musicians will spend three days in the community, visiting elementary schools and interacting with ISU music students. On campus, they will attend master classes and perform for a general assembly of all music majors. There also is time set aside for discussion of the music business, and music students will have an opportunity to perform for the Project musicians.