The Fine Arts Department will be hosting African Drum Specialist Neil Dunn, Thursday, February 23 from 8:00am – 10:30am in Nellis East, Room 106 (Band Room). This is a free community event and open to the public. Neil teaches Rhythmic Notation for Dancers, Dance as an Art Form, West
African Music and Dance, Applied Percussion, and Percussion Ensemble for the Kansas State University School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Neil also serves as lead academic advisor for Dance and as Production Manager/Stage Manager for K-State Dance productions.

Neil earned a Master of Music with Percussion Emphasis from the University of Arizona in 2002 and is Principal Timpanist for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and the Arizona Opera Orchestra. Neil has worked as a dance accompanist since 1994 and worked closely with the U of A School of Dance as an educator, composer, and senior accompanist from 2000 to 2005. Neil has performed with dance at ACDFA, PASIC, and Jazz Dance World Congress, in addition to international venues in Taiwan and Spain.

Neil studied West African music and dance with Bernard Woma, Dorwana Tijan and other teachers in Ghana, West African and the U.S.  His interests and research include the study of West African social dance and drumming and the African xylophones from northern Ghana.