• Summer 2011: Research trip to Europe including research into romantic performance practice and instrument construction. Germany, Austria, Hungary

• May 27-31: Adjudication at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest, in Austin. This is one of the largest Solo/ensemble festival of its kind in the country. This was my 15th time invited to adjudicate

• May16, 17 , 2011: Master class for the University of Texas at El Paso: Performance of Eric Ewazen’s 20 minute solo for marimba, “Northern Lights”
  Sponsored by Vic Firth, Yamaha, Remo, and Sabian

• April 15, 2011: Master class for the Waco McLennan Community College: Performance of Eric Ewazen’s 20 minute solo for marimba, “Northern Lights”
  Sponsored by Vic Firth, Yamaha, Remo, and Sabian

• April 2011: Master class for the Plano School System: Performance of Eric Ewazen’s 20 minute solo for marimba, “Northern Lights”
  Sponsored by Vic Firth, Yamaha, Remo, and Sabian

• April 2011: Master class for the Carrolton School System: Performance of Eric Ewazen’s 20 minute solo for marimba, “Northern Lights”
  Sponsored by Vic Firth, Yamaha, Remo, and Sabian

• February 2011, Presentation on “Percussion from the Podium” by invitation for the TMEA Texas Music Educators Association held in San Antonio. This is one of the largest music convention in Southwest

• January 2011, Faculty Percussion Recital at UTA featuring soli and collaborative works with Bassoon Faculty Scott Pool and Flute faculty Sarah Frisof

  Program:

  Northern Lights (1993) Eric Ewazen

  Nimrob/Kimbob (2006) George Frock

  Mosaics for Marimba, Flute, and Bassoon(2001) Eric Ewazen

  1. Barcarolle

  2. Fantasia and Fugue

  3. Pavane

  4. Tarantella

  The Forest for the Trees for two Marimba and 2 Bassoon(2007) Thomas Priest

• December 2010 Presentation on "Cymbals: a Crash Course" for the Midwest Band and Orchestra clinic held in Chicago Illinois, the largest music convention in the world

• Fall 2009: Dr. Varner was granted a Faculty Development Leave to study world percussion and Jazz vibraphone. He used the time to accept an invitation from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife Nigeria to study the music of Nigeria, particularly the DunDun talking drum and the Shekere ensemble.

• Fall 2008 Varner Faculty Jazz Recital performed with Jazz faculty members, Irons Recital Hall

• Spring 2008 hosted the College of Liberal Arts first "Fulbright Scholar" on campus. Dr. Daramola, from Nigeria taught a number of classes on campus and in the metroplex area, as well as performing with the African world music ensemble

• February 2008: Texas Music Educators Association State Convention San Antonio: guest conducted the Lewisville Marcus High School percussion ensemble.

• 2007 led a "Study-Abroad" group from the Music department, the first in music department history, to Ghana Africa to experience African music. The class stayed in Africa for the month of June working with traditional musicians.

• Fall 2006 Recital/Lecture tour of Oklahoma on "The Development of Solo Marimba Literature in the late 20th Century.

• Presentations at:

  Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City

• University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond Oklahoma

• University of Oklahoma, Norman Oklahoma

• Owasso High School, Tulsa

• Union High school, Tulsa

  The development of solo Marimba literature in the late twentieth century

  Program:

  Suite for marimba Alfred Fissinger (1950)

  Mist

  Rendezvous in black

  Esch y sure

  Bastonge convoy

  My Lady White David Maslanka (1981) Three songs for marimba

  Madrigal- My Lady White

  Spring…birds sing…a gift of rings

  For pretty Alison

  Marimba dances Ross Edwards (1982)

  Reflections on the Nature of Water Jacob Druckman (1986)

  Crystalline

  Fleet

  Relentless

  Ilijas Nebojsa J. Zivkovic (1996)

  Rumble Strips Gordon Stout (2000)

  Sponsored by: The University of Texas At Arlington,Vic Firth Mallets, Yamaha Music

• 2005 Recital Tour in Louisiana and East Texas performing and lecturing on "Japanese Marimba Music.
• Presentations at:

• McNeese University for the Louisiana Percussive Arts Society,

• Univ of Louisiana at Lafayette

• Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches

• Midwestern University, Witchita Falls, Texas

  Program:

  Torse III Akira Miyoshi

  These

  Chant

  Commentaire

  Synthese

  Ancient Vase Keiko Abe

  “Mantra” from Susvar Richard Nye Commissioned by Dr. Varner

  Conversation Suite for Marimba Akira Miyoshi

  Tender Talk

  So Nice it Was…….Repeatedly

  Lingering Chagrin

  Again the Hazy Answer

  A Lame Excuse

  Memories of the Seashore Keiko Abe

  Strike! George Chave Commissioned by Dr. Varner

  Sponsored by: The University of Texas At Arlington Vic Firth Mallets Yamaha Music

   

"Celebration of African Culture"