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BGSU New Music Festival explores ‘Method in Madness’


The 2011 Bowling Green New Music Festival – now in its 32nd year — will showcase the work of more than 25 guest composers and performers Oct. 12-15. The international festival includes concerts, lectures and workshops, organized around the theme “Method in Madness,” celebrating music for unusual or exceptional groups of instruments and innovative modes of presentation.

This year’s featured guests include Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang and the ensemble Mantra Percussion.

Organized by the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music (MACCM) and the College of Musical Arts at BGSU, the festival supports the creation of new work and engages both the University and city communities in the process of music appreciation and awareness.

Highlights of this year’s festival include nine world premiere performances of works by David Lang, Brad Balliett, Ge Gan-ru, Matthew Roddie, Christopher Dietz, Amy Beth Kirsten, Jeffrey Brooks, James Mobberley and Mayke Nas.

Festival goers can also enjoy an evening of avant-garde jazz with saxophonist Tony Malaby and his trio Tamarindo, a workshop on creativity and improvisation in music education by Christopher Azzara, a concert of music and film at the Clazel Theater in downtown Bowling Green, and the U.S. premiere of Michael Gordon’s “Timber,” a concert-length work for six percussionists.

In addition, the festival will present a concert of works by students from the Toledo School for the Arts enrolled in the “MACCM Institute” program, a composition and creativity workshop funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Founded in 1980, the New Music Festival has hosted such notable composers as John Adams, Milton Babbitt, John Cage and Joan Tower.

Most festival events are free and open to the public. For ticket information, contact the Moore Musical Arts Center box office at 419-372-8171 or 1-800-589-2224.

For a complete schedule of festival events, visit http://festival.bgsu.edu or contact the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music at 419-372-2685.

12th Annual Artsong Competition to Air on WBGU-TV

The 12th Annual Conrad Artsong Competition will be aired on WBGU-TV this weekend during the following times:

· Friday, September 30 at 10:00 pm
· Saturday, October 1 at 5:00 pm
· Sunday, October 2 at 5:00 pm

The Dr. Marjorie Conrad Art Song Fund provides financial prizes for singers and collaborative pianists in two divisions: undergraduate and graduate. The goal of the contest is to encourage students enrolled at BGSU to approach the art song in a serious and intense manner to enhance their learning experience.

(Submitted by Susan Hoekstra)

Drummer John Riley to Perform on Jazz Spotlight

Drummer John Riley will be in Bowling Green Wednesday, September 28th and Thursday, September 29th as the guest artist for the Jazz Spotlight. While he is here he will give a master class on jazz drumming and work with the student chamber jazz ensembles. He will perform with the faculty group at 149 on Wednesday and Thursday evening will appear with the BGSU Lab Band at 8pm in Kobacker Hall.

Mr. Riley is currently the drummer in the famous Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and with saxophonist Bob Mintzer.

(Submitted by David Bixler)

Thomas Rosenkranz in Residence at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China

Assistant Professor of Piano, Thomas Rosenkranz is currently in residence at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China. During the next two months, he will be presented in a series of lectures, workshops, private lessons, and masterclasses. In addition he will present a chamber music concert with violinist Chu Wang and BGSU alum and cellist, Mingwei Zhao on October 17th and a solo concert on October 19th.

During his time in China he will also be performing and giving masterclasses at the following institutions: The Shanghai Conservatory of Music (as part of New Music Week Shanghai), Hong Kong Baptist University, Xian Conservatory in Guangzhou, Sichuan Academy of the Arts in Chengdu, and Tunghai University in Taiwan.

(Submitted by Thomas Rosenkranz)

Toledo Symphony Orchestra String Quartet to Conduct Nov. 9 Reading Session of Student Compositions

On Nov.9, the string quartet from the Toledo Symphony will be reading and recording student works. Below is a list of all the particulars regarding the event. Please read it carefully.

Time and place:
Wed., Nov.9 from 3:30-6:00pm in Bryan Recital Hall

There will be four 30-minute slots available. The remaining 30 minutes of the session include a break for the musicians and buffer-time for transitions, etc.

Rules for submission:
-All BGSU composition majors are eligible for consideration for one of the four time slots.

-The submission must be for the entire ensemble, not subsets.

-The submitted work may be of any duration, however, keep in mind that each reading slot is only 30 minutes long.

-Deadlines
Score submission date: Oct.19 (bound score, Dietz’s mailbox by 4:00pm)
Selected composers’ parts due date: Oct.25

(Submitted by Christopher Dietz)

BGSU New Music Ensemble Announces International Call for Scores for April 12, 2012 Concert

The College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University has a rich tradition of promoting contemporary music through performance, education and outreach. Home to the Mid-American Center for Contemporary Music, the college hosts the annual Music at the Forefront Series as well as the BGSU New Music Festival, now in its 32nd year. Additionally, the college maintains a very active Music Technology program, offers a DMA in Contemporary Music with specializations in composition or performance and continually encourages its students, in all degree programs, to engage with the music of our time.

The New Music Ensemble at BGSU wishes to contribute to this tradition by offering a call for scores for performance on their April 12, 2012 concert.

Click here for more info.

(Submitted by Christopher Dietz)

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