(Cedar City, UT) - A special musical weekend will be stitched together when two unique forms of percussion and quilting create Common Threads in SUU’s innovative Satellite Salon Series, in a special three-day series of events developed by members of the Music and Art and Design departments feature series creator, Dr. Lynn Vartan, percussionist, and art quilter Deborah K. Snider, an SUU Professor. They will be joined by guest artist Matthew Coley who will play the dulcimer. These professionals will participate in a master class and Q&A at 3:00pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012 and in a joint concert on Friday, September 14th at 7:30pm. On Saturday, September 15, 2012, Vartan will participate in a family workshop, “Arts Unwrapped,” at 10:30am. All events will take place at Thorley Recital Hall located on campus in SUU’s Music Building. All events are free and opened to the general public.

This Satellite Salon Series is comprised of three events over a two-day period. On Thursday, September 13, 2012, at 3:00pm, in a master class setting, Matthew Coley and Dr. Lynn Vartan will demonstrate instrumental techniques and Coley will interact with some students and coach their own performance. Coley and Vartan will be joined by Deborah K. Snider and the trio will discuss their careers as working artists. The master class is targeted to college and high school age students. On Saturday morning September 15, at 10:30am, the casual “Arts Unwrapped” features a program in which youngsters explore their creativity in a unique hands-on art and music project featuring Coley and Vartan. Noisy children are welcome to attend with their parents who can walk them around the family-friendly event which is geared to young children, families and the community.

The weekend’s highlight will be Common Threads, a concert highlighted by a vibrant collaboration of the instrumentalists and visual artist, performed on Friday, September 14th at 7:30pm. The concert’s first half will feature Matthew Coley and Dr. Lynn Vartan performing works that showcase the dulcimer and various percussion instruments. In the second act, in a special collaboration between music and art, Deborah K. Snider will create a “community quilt” based on colorful contributions of provided cut by the audience – all while Coley and Vartan perform. The concert melds together music and an art form that speaks to our community and thus, as an evening, promises to be a vibrant work of art for both the ears and eyes.

Experience how music and quilting weave a spell. Do not miss Common Threads, a weekend of events that promises to be highly entertaining. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800.