The Wabash College’s Visiting Artist Series presents Sandbox Percussion’s performance of Seven Pillars on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center’s Salter Hall.

Seven Pillars is an 11-movement concert piece for percussion quartet with music composed by Andy Akiho, performed by Sandbox Percussion, and with lighting and stage design created by Michael McQuilken. Since the release of the album in September 2021, Seven Pillars has received widespread acclaim, most notably receiving two nominations in the 2022 GRAMMY® Awards and selected as a finalist in the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

The work consists of seven ensemble movements and one solo for each member of Sandbox. It is the largest-scale chamber music work that Akiho has written and that Sandbox has commissioned.

Each movement flows continuously into the next without pause. McQuilken, a director and filmmaker, created an original lighting scheme seamlessly integrated with the music, and designed the layout of the instruments on stage and the choreography of transitions between movements.

Sandbox Percussion is dedicated to artistry in contemporary chamber music. Founded in 2011 by a love of chamber music and the simple joy of playing together, Sandbox captivates audiences worldwide with visually and aurally stunning performances. 

Seven Pillars’ GRAMMY® nominations included Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Contemporary Classical Composition. The ensemble performed the piece more than 15 times throughout the United States and Europe last season.

Tickets to the event are free, but are required, for Visiting Artist Series events. For more information please visit: www.wabash.edu/boxoffice, or phone 765-361-6411.