Satellite Salon Series Welcomes World-Class Drummer Mark Guiliana to SUU
Published: January 08, 2025 | Author: Jed Blodgett | Read Time: 3 minutes
Southern Utah University’s Department of Music is proud to announce the spring 2025 Satellite Salon Series, featuring internationally acclaimed drummer and composer Mark Guiliana. The event will take place on Friday, January 17, 2025, in the Thorley Recital Hall at the SUU Music Building. The series includes a clinic at 4:00 p.m. and a concert, "Mark Guiliana Plays MARK," at 7:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.
Hailed by The New York Times as “a drummer around whom a cult of admiration has formed,” Mark Guiliana brings his signature blend of virtuosic technique and innovative artistry to Cedar City. Guiliana is celebrated for his ability to traverse a broad spectrum of styles—from acoustic jazz to cutting-edge electronic music and rock—and for his collaborations with icons like David Bowie, St. Vincent, Brad Mehldau, and Meshell Ndegeocello. His latest solo album, MARK, recorded at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, showcases his talents as a composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, pushing the boundaries of modern music.
The Satellite Salon Series, inaugurated in 2009 by SUU percussion professor Dr. Lynn Vartan, has become a cornerstone of SUU’s music community. Designed to bring world-class artists to southern Utah, the series offers students and the community the rare opportunity to learn from and engage with premier musicians through masterclasses and performances. The biannual series has consistently highlighted the transformative power of music education and live performance.
“We’re thrilled to host Mark Guiliana for this year’s Satellite Salon Series,” said Jed Blodgett, SUU's current director of percussion. “He is in a category all by himself in terms of artistry, drumming, jazz, and improvisation. His innovative approach to drumming and composition will be an incredible opportunity for our students and the Southern Utah community.”
Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to experience one of the most innovative drummers of our time. For more information, contact the SUU Department of Music at (435) 586-7890 or visit https://www.suu.edu/pva/music/satellite.html.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.
Tags: Music Community College of Performing and Visual Arts Percussion
Contact Information:
Jed Blodgett
435-586-7890
jedblodgett@suu.edu