The NIU Percussion Ensemble will present its world percussion concert at 8 p.m. today at the NIU Music Building’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.

The free concert, performed by all percussion majors, will feature classical percussion literature mixed with war music. Assistant music professor Orlando Cotto and graduate students Mark Breen and Ben Wahlund will direct the concert.

The students have been practicing for this event all semester as a requirement for their music program, Cotto said.

The NIU School of Music is renowned for its world music program with international performances by the NIU Steel Band and active world ensembles ranging from Indonesian gamelans to East Indian tabla. Today’s concert will present percussion music from Brazil, Cuba and Puerto Rico.

The concert will include a wide variety of music within the nine pieces performed. The first half will open with an fast-paced energetic tune, followed by two pieces featuring xylophone solos.

Another piece will challenge three musicians to play one marimba simultaneously, and the concert concludes with two unique rhythms from Puerto Rico.

For more information, call Orlando Cotto at 753-7981 or Lynn Slater at 753-1546.