February 2, 2001 UNT Inhouse publication: Conference concerts feature world premieres

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Conference concerts feature world premieres

With nearly a dozen new pieces of music being premiered by composers from all walks of life, the music performed at this year's national conference for college band directors will reflect the diversity in the industry.

"Every year, we discuss the need for the music we perform with our ensembles to reflect the diversity of the composers working today, so this year we're following that edict at the conference itself," says Eugene Corporon, professor of music, conference director and president of the College Band Directors National Association.

The 31st national conference of the association is Feb. 21-24 at UNT. During the conference, participants will attend lectures, panel discussions and other functions including more than a dozen concerts.

The concerts, held at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day of the conference are open to the general public. Tickets range from $15 to $20 and can be purchased at (940) 369-8702. All concerts will be presented in Winspear Hall in the UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Two of the premiere works will be performed by the UNT Wind Symphony beginning at 8 p.m. Feb. 22 .

Canvas, a new composition dealing with politics, society and culture by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Walker, will be performed with the help of six speakers presenting the section called "Commentary." In addition, the association commissioned Cindy McTee to orchestrate her new composition Timepiece for wind ensembles, and the Wind Symphony will premiere the new version.

Many classical composers known for their orchestral, chamber music, and solo instrumental repertoire are hesitant about writing for genres outside their more traditional compositional scope. It took Joan Tower, a celebrated American composer, five years to do so, but she

makes her first foray into the world of band music next month with Fascinating Ribbons, a six-minute piece for concert band. Tower's composition premieres at 1 p.m. Feb. 22 by the Keystone Wind Ensemble.

Tower, "one of the most successful woman composers of all time" (The New Yorker), will be on hand at the conference to hear the piece, which incorporates a rhythmic motive taken from George Gershwin's well-know song, Fascinating Rhythms.

The conference closes with the premiere of Dan Welcher's Song Without Words during the National Intercollegiate Symphonic Band's concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 24 .The band includes approximately 100 wind students from around the country.

The conference's opening evening concert at 8 p.m. Feb. 21 will be presented by the U.S. Air Force Band. Admission is free to the performance, but a ticket is required since seating is very limited. Tickets may be picked up from the box office in the Murchison Performing Arts Center on any Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition, two important concerts will precede the conference's official opening.

Fredrick Fennell, founder of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, will guest conduct the Dallas Wind Symphony at 8 p.m. February 20 (Tuesday). And, the River City Brass Band will perform at 8 p.m. February 19 (Monday) as part of the UNT Fine Arts Series.



	Concert Schedule College Band Directors National Association Conference University of North Texas February 19 (Monday) 8 p.m. River City Brass Band Dennis Colwell, conductor $20 February 20 (Tuesday) 8 p.m. Dallas Wind Symphony Jerry Junkin, conductor Frederick Fennell, conductor $20 February 21 (Wednesday) 8 p.m. United States Air Force Band Col. Lowell Graham, conductor Admission is free, but tickets are required. Seating is very limited, and attendees are encouraged to pick up tickets in advance and arrive early. February 22 (Thursday) 1 p.m. Keystone Wind Ensemble Jack Stamp, conductor $15 February 22 (Thursday) 4 p.m. University of Georgia Wind Symphony Dwight Satterwhite, conductor $15 February 22 (Thursday) 8 p.m. University of North Texas Wind Symphony Eugene Corporon, conductor $15 February 23 (Friday) 1 p.m. University of Calgary Wind Ensemble Glenn Price, conductor $15 February 23 (Friday) 4 p.m. Oklahoma State University Wind Ensemble Joseph Missal, conductor $15 February 23 (Friday) 8 p.m. Northwestern University Mallory Thompson, conductor $15 February 24 (Saturday) 8 p.m. The National Intercollegiate Symphonic Band Allan McMurray, conductor $15