PRESCOTT, AZ—

December 9, 2024—Arizona Philharmonic principal timpanist, Maria Flurry, always brings a vibrant party to the stage, and this manos percussion performance Sunday, January 12 is sure to delight and surprise. Partnering with award-winning Bensen Kwan on steel pan (a participant in the Panorama Semi-Finals Competition in Trinidad/Tobago) and Joshua Ferrell on percussion (a Master’s Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas in Denton), they will play 37 instruments, including water, on their way through a dynamic range of material from jazz to Basque to calypso and Bach. “We are all classically trained musicians, unleashing our creative sides to explore this rich collaboration. For both your intellect and your inner child, this is a concert to look forward to,” commented Flurry.

This virtuosic round-the-world journey embraces everything from the grooves of Afro-Cuban rhythms to the sublime melancholy of Debussy—a dynamic exploration of the wealth of musical possibilities percussion offers. manos will be accompanied by three members of Banda Latino Caribeña, a popular Latin band from Flagstaff, on a number of dance-worthy pieces as well. The performance also includes a unique atmospheric piece played entirely on flower pots by manos and joined by PUSD band  students, mentored and directed by Peter Ferry. Ferry is a world-class percussion soloist based in Phoenix, dedicated to creating arresting musical experiences for audiences around the world. “There will be more water and unexpected musical pieces included, such as a farce in a café involving water bottles,” added Flurry.

The free pre-concert talk begins at 2:00pm, with the concert starting at 3:00pm on Sunday, January 12, at the Ruth Street Theater, 1050 Ruth Street in Prescott. Tickets start at $25 (no ticketing fee), and are available at AZPhil.org, or by calling 855-321-6724.

Community Lecture Series 1/11, 11:00 am

On Saturday, January 11, at 11:00 am, AZ Phil’s ongoing Community Lecture Series is interactive this month. Maria Flurry, Principal Timpanist with Arizona Philharmonic and the Flagstaff Symphony delves into making music with water. Her manos colleagues weigh in with Bensen Kwan introducing steel pan music and Josh Ferrell illuminating the musicality of the drum set. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children and are available at AZPhil.org.

** Please note ** the Community Lecture Series is a separate event from Sunday’s pre-concert talk and will feature distinct content.

About Arizona Philharmonic

Founded in 2018, Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is Prescott’s only professional orchestra focused on classical music, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. In its seventh season in 2024-25, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.