Hill to speak on Brazilian music

Julie Hill, director of percussion studies at UTM will present "The Black Music of Brazil: An Emphasis on Social Transformation for Women and Children through Escola Didá" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, in Watkins Auditorium of the UC.

Hill specializes in contemporary and world percussion and is frequently invited to other institutions as a guest lecturer and performer on the topic of Brazilian percussion. Hill has performed at international festivals in Mexico, Brazil, France, Puerto Rico, South Korea and at Percussive Arts Society International Conventions (PASIC) as a member of the Caixa Percussion Trio. The trio has recently recorded its first CD and is currently commissioning a second set of compositions.

Hill is known for her extensive research of percussion throughout Brazil, primarily in the regions of Salvador da Bahia, Rio de Janerio and São Paulo. She serves on the international advisory board for Escola Didá, a project based in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, dedicated to social transformation for black women and at-risk children through music.

Hill received her Bachelor of Music Education from UTM and went on to earn a Master of Music in percussion performance from Arizona State University and a doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky.

The free lecture is part of the Academic Speaker series sponsored by UTM Honors Programs.

"Every year Honors Programs invites a top UT Martin faculty-scholar to the Academic Speakers Series, not only to share their unique talents, but to show that one does not need to go very far to find high quality research and creative activity," said Dr. Lionel Crews, director of Honors Programs. "Dr. Julie Hill exemplifies this philosophy with her world-renowned percussion work."

The presentation is free and open to the public.