By Jill Yesko , University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 9-25-07
Vibraphonist Anders Astrand
GREENSBORO, NC – The fourth edition of the New Music Festival will feature a rich offering of concerts, lectures, presentations and reading sessions.
This year’s edition will take place Oct. 23-25 at UNCG and at off-campus locations.
Among the special guest artists will be Amy Dissanayake, described by the Chicago Sun Times as “a ferociously talented pianist.” Her program includes concert tangos and ragtimes as well as towering etudes by American composer David Rakowski.
Other guest artists include Bill Fontana, whose sound sculptures use the urban environment for musical inspiration and Swedish vibraphonist and composer Anders Åstrand.
Nine guest composers from around the country will be featured. The festival will also include performances by new UNCG faculty members, including composers Alejandro Rutty and Matt Quayle, and performers Anthony Taylor (clarinet) and Lorena Guillén (voice). UNCG resident ensembles include the Chamber Singers, the EastWind Ensemble and the Contemporary Chamber Players.
The festival marks the inauguration of Bill Fontana’s “Spiraling Sound Axis” sound installation at the Weatherspoon Art Museum’s sculpture courtyard. The installation consists of custom-made recordings of familiar North Carolina sounds that Fontana collected throughout the state. The recordings, such as a thunderstorm in Wilmington and a tobacco auction in Wilson, represent sounds that reflect the state’s history, people, culture and environment.
Tickets are available at the UNCG box office by calling (336) 334-4849, or visiting www.uncg.edu/euc/boxoffice/tickets. For the most up-to-date concert information visit www.uncg.edu/mus/NewMusicFest.
The festival schedule includes:
Preview Concert
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 12:30 p.m.
West Market Street United Methodist Church. Free.
Concert I
Tuesday, Oct. 23, Recital Hall, UNCG School of Music. 7:30 p.m.
Concert with works by Matt Quayle, Alejandro Rutty, Benjamin Broening, Amy Dissanayake and Anders Åstrand. Additional performances by Lorena Guillén and the UNCG Chamber Singers under the direction of Welborn Young. $10 public, $6 seniors, $3 students.
Student Composers Concert
Wednesday, Oct. 24, Recital Hall, UNCG School of Music. 4 p.m.
Student Composers Concert featuring composers from Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of South Carolina and UNCG. Recital Hall, UNCG School of Music. Free.
Concert II
Wednesday, Oct. 24, Recital Hall, UNCG School of Music. 7:30 p.m.
Sound and video concert with works by Benjamin Broening, Rodney Waschka, Samantha DiRosa, Ryan Hare, Ivica Ico Bukvic and Fuminori Tanada, Anders Åstrand and Amy Dissanayake. Additional performances by Steve Stusek, UNCG faculty Anthony Taylor and the UNCG Contemporary Chamber Players. $10 public, $6 seniors, $3 students.
Concert III
Thursday, Oct. 25, Weatherspoon Art Museum.
5:30 p.m. Reception.
6 p.m. Bill Fontana inaugurates “Spiraling Sound Axis” installation.
7 p.m. Concert with works by new UNCG Composition faculty member Alejandro Rutty, with Judith Shatin, Shawn Okpebholo and Morton Subotnick. Performances by the EastWind Ensemble, Anthony Taylor, Scott Rawls, Susan Fancher. $10 public, $6 seniors, $3 students.
Additional lectures and master classes and reading sessions will take place during the festival.
