‘American Vistas,’ an April 8 faculty showcase concert, celebrates contemporary composers
‘American Vistas: A Faculty Showcase,’ a concert featuring faculty performing artists, takes place Friday, April 8, 2016, 7:30 p.m., in Evans Hall, Cummings Arts Center with a diverse program of works inspired by the natural world, including world premieres of works by Art Kreiger and Dale Wilson. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for seniors and students, and free to Connecticut College staff, faculty and students. All are welcome to attend a reception following the concert.
Music department co-chair James Dale Wilson said, “Co-Chair Professor John Anthony and I designed this program to foreground the talents of our incredible performing faculty artists. Partly because we are offering a course on American Music (MUS/AMS 103) this semester, we invited performers to propose pieces by American composers. The results have been stunning.”
In a program that Wilson describes as “both accessible and exciting,” American Vistas celebrates the music of contemporary American composers, with faculty soloists or faculty-led ensembles performing each of the evening’s selections:
Bassoonist Becky Noreen will present two works by Jenni Brandon: Found Objects: On the Beach (Libby VanCleve, Oboe; Thomas Labadorf, Clarinet; Rebecca Noreen, Bassoon) and Sea Quartet For Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano (Libby VanCleve, Oboe; Thomas Labadorf, Clarinet; Rebecca Noreen, Bassoon; Patrice Newman, Piano).
An ensemble led by harpist Megan Sesma will present William Schmidt’s Music for Scrimshaws (Joel Baroody, trumpet; Thomas Brown, trumpet; Gary Buttery, tuba Bryce Nakaoka, French horn; Megan Sesma, harp; Vince Yanovitch, trombone).
Connecticut College Concert/Jazz Band director Gary Buttery will present Fischer Tull’s Nonet for Winds, Percussion and Piano (Patricia Harper, flute; Thomas Labadorf, clarinet; Rebecca Noreen, bassoon; Joshua Thomas, alto saxophone; Thomas Brown, trumpet; Vince Yanovitch, trombone; Gary Buttery, tuba; Steve Petersen, percussion; Patrice Newman, piano; Mark Seto, conductor).
Pianist Kumi Ogano will premier Dale Wilson’s solo piano composition, Inkling.
Wilson adds that he is particularly looking forward to Time Shares (2016), colleague Art Kreiger’s recently completed piece for trumpet and electronic sounds, which trumpeter Tom Brown will premiere.
For more information, contact Nancy Zuelch, music department assistant, by emailing njzue@conncoll.edu, or call 860-439-2720.
April 5, 2016