FESTIVAL AT APPALACHIAN CELEBRATES WORKS BY CONTEMPORARY COMPOSERS

University News

Friday April 18, 2008

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity at Appalachian State University presents the 39th annual Contemporary Music Festival April 20-25. Concerts associated with the festival begin at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free.

Works by guest composer Michael Daugherty will be performed during the festival. Dougherty is one of the most performed and commissioned American composers of his generation. His chamber music is widely per¬formed as well, and has been recorded for Argo/Decca on the CD "American Icons." He is professor of composition at the University of Michigan’s School of Music.

Concerts include an "American Music Review," a recital of music by American composers April 20 at 4 p.m. The concert features "Waltz" and "Dexter’s Air," "Because Our Friends Have Gone," "Shenandoah" and "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Compositions by Hayes School of Music chief recording engineer Scott Wynne will be performed April 21 at 8 p.m. Works include "Burtonesque," music inspired by Tim Burton’s book "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Short Stories," "Mackenzie’s Dance" and "Just Say Goodbye."

A concert of chamber music will be presented April 23 at 8 p.m. The program includes "The Five Notes Make His Ears Deaf" by Josh Harris, "Tuba Sauce" by Peter Smalley, "Gang of Wolves" (based on themes from Mozart’s bassoon concerto) by Peter Schickele and Michael Daugherty’s "Ladder to the Moon" and "Dead Elvis," which will be directed by James Allen Anderson.

The Appalachian Symphonic Band, conducted by Dr. Scott Tobias, will perform April 24 at 8 p.m. The program includes "Fusion" by Brian Balmages, "Sanctuary" by Frank Ticheli and "Niagara Falls" by Michael Daugherty.

The Appalachian Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. John S. Ross, will perform April 25 at 8 p.m. The program features "Dance Movements" by Phillip Sparke, "Trumpet Concerto in A-flat Major" by Alexander Arutiunian and "UFO for Solo Percussion and Orchestra" by Michael Daugherty.

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