A concert featuring traditional Indonesian percussion highlights the UNCA Music Department's March concert series. All events are open to public.

-- The Western Carolina University Gamelan Ensemble, directed by WCU professor Will Peebles, will perform traditional Indonesian music at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, in UNCA's Lipinsky Auditorium. The gamelan is the percussion orchestra of Indonesia, but the instrumentation and repertory varies from island to island and from town to town. The ensemble performs on Gamelan Kyai Tatit Ratri, a pair of gamelan made in Jogjakarta in 1985, and will feature the traditional music of Malaysia, central and western Java as well as contemporary compositions. The concert will feature Alan Mattingly on horn and Eliot Wadopian on fretless bass guitar. During the performance, Siti Kusujiarti will perform traditional Javanese dance. A $5 donation to benefit UNCA's Music Department will be suggested at the door.

-- Lillian Buss Pearson, solo pianist and Western Carolina University music professor, will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, in UNCA's Humanities Lecture Hall. Pearson will perform Six Bagatelles by Beethoven, Improvisations by Bartok and Sonata in B Minor by Chopin. A $5 donation to benefit UNCA's Music Department will be suggested at the door.

-- UNCA Music Department assistant professor Jacqueline Ekstrand will direct the UNCA Concert Band and the UNCA Community Brass Choir in an ensemble performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, in UNCA's Lipinsky Auditorium. The groups will perform music from the Renaissance to 20th century. A $5 donation to benefit UNCA's Music Department will be suggested at the door.

-- Deborah Belcher, pianist and UNCA adjunct music instructor, will perform a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26, in UNCA's Lipinsky Auditorium. The program will include the music of Bach, Beethoven, Gershwin and Chopin. A $5 donation to benefit UNCA's Music Department will be suggested at the door.

For more information, contact the UNCA Music Department at 828/251-6432.