By Monty Siekerman
An evening of happy, beat-driven music will fill Presser Hall at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28. Five percussion groups will perform, including the ONU Percussion Ensemble, Steel Drum Band, African Dance and Drumming Ensemble, the newly-formed Samba Band and an Ada favorite, the Wild Steelions.

The Wild Steelions, made up of area junior and senior high students, will perform a variety of steel drum tunes as well as holiday tunes. Think Caribbean Islands.

The Samba Band (think Brazilian music) will perform a high-energy tune called "Summer Samba."

The Ghana Dance Ensemble (think Africa) will perform a traditional dance called "Fume Fume."

Dr. Sarah Waters directs all of the ensembles. She hopes to fill Presser Hall that evening. The program is free and open to the public.

An Ada Icon report from a year ago stated, in part, "The musicians and audience experienced the most happy and fun performance in Presser Hall's 90-year-history when four steel bands pounded out 17 songs to a nearly full house. There was limbo, a conga line and what could be construed as ONU's adaptation of a mosh pit."

Photo: a Wild Steelion performing last Christmas