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BGSU Alumnus & Composer David Conte Reminisces on 60 Years in Music

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San Francisco Classical Voice—

“David Conte doesn’t look like a sexagenarian, even though his seventh decade will begin on Dec. 20 and he’ll be publicly celebrating it with a Birthday Concert on Nov. 1 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he chairs the Composition Department.

Young at heart as he manifestly remains, Conte has credentialed connections to the past. He spent several years as one of the last students of the legendary Nadia Boulanger and then spent scholarly and personal time with Aaron Copland, who’d been a pupil of Boulanger a half-century earlier. Conte secured academic degrees from Bowling Green State University and Cornell University, before joining SFCM in 1985. He’s composed extensively for chorus, as well as for solo voice, opera, chamber ensemble, orchestra, and solo instruments. SFCV shared a lunch with him near his Corona Heights home before he took a sentimental journey to his original hometown of Cleveland.”

Read more.

Toledo Symphony Orchestra featured in BGSU’s composer reading session

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BOWLING GREEN, OH— Orchestral compositions written by Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts students will be read, rehearsed and recorded by Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) musicians on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 3:30-6 p.m. in BGSU’s Kobacker Hall. Michael Lewanski, a prominent figure on the international contemporary music scene, will lead the orchestra while acclaimed composer, conductor author and educator Samuel Adler will be present to observe the session and give comments in an evening masterclass.

After a review of the submitted scores, the following works were selected for the session:

– Richard Arndorfer       Aurora
– Andrew Binder           Endleofan
– Emily Custer               Seelenruhe
– Matthew Ramage        Mutability
– Jacob Sandridge           I-77

The TSO will be bringing its largest complement of players to BGSU, 72 musicians in all. “Few academic institutions can offer this kind of professional experience, making this a unique opportunity for BGSU students,” said Christopher Dietz, a faculty member in musicology, composition and theory and organizer of the session.

The event is open to students, faculty and staff of the BGSU College of Musical Arts and invited guests. Members of the public who would like to attend should email faculty liaison Christopher Dietz (cjdietz@bgsu.edu) to be included on the guest list.

International Choral Bulletin spotlights BGSU composition student

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Adam D. O’Dell’s article discussing The Influence of Gregorian Chant on Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium was recently featured in IFCM’s International Choral Bulletin. A fragment of his article is quoted below.

“Morten Lauridsen is one of the most frequently performed living composers. His works span a number of disciplines and influences, including trumpet concertos, orchestral works, and chamber works. His most influential works, however, are undoubtedly his choral pieces. His choral works are based on sacred and secular texts alike, and each of them carries influence from the era in which the texts are written. His most purchased and most performed work is his setting of the O Magnum Mysterium  text.

He wrote the O Magnum Mysterium  setting as a commission from the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 1994. The now deceased director of the chorale at the time, Paul Salamunovich, according to Lauridsen, was “one of the great practitioners of Gregorian chant”, 4 and consequently, Lauridsen decided to “use the conjunct melodic ideas of chant as a base” in his setting. These influences included the use of Greek voice leading rules, the use of a “keynote,” and nods to melismatic text setting.”

The International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) is an international association founded in 1982 to facilitate communication and exchange between choral musicians throughout the world. IFCM has around 900 members from all continents. The members are individuals, choirs, organizations, or companies. Through the organizations and choirs IFCM plays a role in choral music and choral events in the world.

O’Dell (b.1992) is currently pursuing his MM in Composition at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, studying with Dr. Chris Dietz, and working as a theory teaching assistant. He recently graduated with a BA in Music from Clarke University in Dubuque, IA, where he studied composition with Dr. Amy Dunker, and piano with Nancy Lease and Dr. Sharon Jensen. His research interests include Biomusicology and the study of older styles on modern composition, including Sacred Harp. He has won awards from the Kennedy Center and Make Music Inc. His works have been performed across the United States, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. He is a member of ASCAP and SCI, and is a licensed PARMA artist.

Arne Spohr lectures at Symposium to celebrate the Berlin Staatskapelle

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BGSU music history professor Arne Spohr has been invited to lecture at the symposium celebrating the 450th birthday of the Berlin Staatskapelle, one of the oldest orchestras in the world. The symposium takes place in the Staatsoper im Schillertheater and in Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin, Germany, October 18-20, 2015. Professor Spohr gives a lecture outlining the importance of English instrumentalists for the history of this orchestra during the early 17th century. Daniel Barenboim, chief conductor of the Staatskapelle, will give the welcoming speech to open this event.

Alumnus receives prominent position at Northwestern University

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Alumnus D. J. Hoek has been appointed Associate University Librarian for Collections Strategies at Northwestern University. After serving over ten years as Head of the Northwestern Music Library, he will now be in charge of all library collections and will align the library’s collection with university priorities and goals. He received Master of Music degrees in both composition and music theory from BGSU in 1996 and a Master of Library Science degree from Indiana University in 1998.

Klingler ElectroAcoustic Residency: James Andean, Fall 2015

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The 2015-16 Klingler ElectroAcoustic Residency (KEAR) congratulates and welcomes its 2015-16 recipients who will work on creative projects in the multi-channel/Ambisonic studio at Bowling Green State University (Ohio USA) during this academic year:

James Andean (Finland) – Fall 2015

Louise Harris (UK) – Spring 2016

The competition received 23 applications from 11 countries including the US, Canada, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Spain. The quality of submissions was very high and the creative and technical ideas inspiring. We thank everyone who proposed so many great projects and wish we could accept them all.

Many thanks to the jury who carefully reviewed all applications:

Adam Basanta – independent sound artist/composer and 2013 KEAR recipient

Manuella Blackburn – Liverpool Hope University, UK

Judith Shatin – University of Virginia, USA

Stay tuned for news about the 2016-17 KEAR opportunity, which will be announced in early 2016. We welcome all applicants who want to explore multi-channel, live performance, and/or Ambisonic projects.

http://eastudios.bgsu.edu

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