The California State University, Stanislaus Music Department welcomed Dr. Jonathon Latta as its guest artist in a performance that quite literally kicked the semester off with a bang. 
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, students had the opportunity to attend the guest concert featuring percussionist Dr. Jonathon Latta, the Assistant Professor of Music at Fort Lewis College. His concert featured a number of pieces that ranged through the broad spectrum of percussion music.
“I wanted to leave students with an idea of the diversity that exists within percussion, which includes a trip around the world,” Latta said. 
The pieces Latta played showed off a collection of different percussion instruments including the marimba, snare drum and timpani, and ventured into other parts of the world with the final piece which included African and Brazilian influence.
This last piece was a crowd favorite, as it brought the music into the audience by asking them to clap along and then actually marching the drummers around the audience as they played. 
“I enjoyed that he just made it more interactive with the clapping,” Meng Vang (junior, Criminal Justice) said. 
Latta’s performance was especially beneficial to the percussionists of CSU Stanislaus who joined him on stage for the last piece. 
They were given the chance to work with Latta, who sat in on classes and offered his experience and wisdom. 
“I loved working with him because he’s not just talented and very experienced, but his knowledge goes through so many genres and styles within percussion,” Divesh Karamchandani (senior, Music) said. 
Latta’s concert included eight different pieces that featured percussion instruments in various ways from solo pieces in a specific instrument, to a jazz combo in which Latta was joined by the new Jazz Studies Coordinator, Keith Kelly. Kelly was the one who set up this concert in conjunction with his own faculty recital which was held the next day and also featured Latta. 
“It was invigorating, exhilarating,” Brian Lewsadder (senior, Music) said. 
Students interested in attending more of the concerts held on campus by the Music Department can check out their online calendar at csustan.edu/Music.Calendar.html.