Coppell Percussion will present its annual fundraising event Purely Rhythmic this Saturday at Coppell High School Auditorium from 7-10 p.m..

This year’s event will feature guest artist CJ Menge for the finale performance. In past years, Purely Rhythmic has featured professional percussionists such as Team Islas, Nate Smith, Clayton Stroup and Poovalur Sriji. Menge is a nationally recognized steel pan educator and composer, and the executive director of Inside Out Steelband, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

The event, keeping with tradition, will also premiere pieces by student composers senior Nivi Anandaraj and junior Akanksha Subbarao. Both students have composed pieces that were premiered at Purely Rhythmic in past years. 

As a longstanding tradition of Coppell Percussion, Purely Rhythmic is the main directive for percussion students after drumline season ends in the fall. Rehearsals for the 24 pieces set to be performed on Saturday have been conducted since December. 

“Purely Rhythmic is a chance for young percussionists to showcase mature musicality skills,” Anandaraj said. “Anything goes. We can have a piece where people are only making noises with their mouth or one where we’re using broken pots and random hardware.”

The fundraiser includes a bake sale and raffle, which can be purchased in the auditorium foyer throughout the show. 

Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults, and can be purchased online or at the door.

Follow Saniya (@SaniyaKoppikar) and @CHSCampusNews on Twitter.