WMU News

Seminar features guest and faculty artist performances

July 9, 2003

KALAMAZOO -- Three free evening concerts featuring guest and faculty artists will be presented as part of Seminar 2003, Western Michigan University's summer music camp for high school students.

Titled "Can you hear me now?," the concert series is open to the public and includes guest pianist Nicholas Roth, July 14; the Western Jazz Quartet, July 17; and faculty ensemble Opus 21, July 21. All three performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Nicholas Roth, pianist
Monday, July 14, 7:30 p.m.
Dalton Center Recital Hall

Roth will perform works by Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, and Liszt. Originally from Elkhart, Indiana, Nicholas Roth attended Seminar as a high school piano student in 1984. He went on to complete degrees at Indiana University and most recently earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University. This fall he will be on the piano faculty at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He has appeared as featured soloist in several recital series and festivals throughout the United States including the prestigious Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts Series of Chicago, Sunday Afternoons Live from the Elvehjem in Madison, the Kalamazoo Bach Festival, and the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Masterclasses.

Western Jazz Quartet
Thursday, July 17, 7:30 p.m.
Dalton Center Recital Hall

The Western Jazz Quartet is one of four resident faculty ensembles in the School of Music at Western Michigan University. This internationally acclaimed quartet includes saxophonist Trent Kynaston, pianist Stephen Zegree, and bassist Tom Knific. Battle Creek drummer Larry Ochiltree will be appearing with the quartet for this concert. Western Jazz Quartet performances have been hailed throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America. Formed in 1974, the quartet combines performing and teaching with uncommon success as it promotes jazz music and jazz education through a very active schedule of tours, concerts, and workshops. Activities range from performances for school children of all ages to concerts and tours with such artists as Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Red Rodney, Kenny Werner, Mark Murphy, Randy Brecker, Eddie Daniels, Bobby Shew, Dave Liebman, Janis Siegel, and Bobby McFerrin.

Opus 21
Monday, July 21, 7:30 p.m.
Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Performers for the program include pianist Lori Sims, violinist Renata Artman Knific, clarinetist Bradley Wong, and percussionists Judy Moonert and Greg Secor. Described by The New Yorker as "a vibrantly broad-minded new-music group," Opus 21 features works from genres including contemporary classical, jazz, rock, and world music. The group was founded in 2002 by WMU composer Richard Adams and gave its debut performance at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City on March 1, 2003. Comprised of virtuoso performers from diverse musical circles, the ensemble strives to erase the traditional single-genre programming concept found on most concerts by presenting side by side a diversity of art music and crossover works geared toward audiences with eclectic, wide-ranging musical tastes. The goal of Opus 21 is to create a venue for performers, composers, and audiences whose musical interests extend beyond a single type of music. Its programs seek to increase public awareness and understanding of art music in the twenty-first century, introduce the public to works they might not otherwise hear.

"Can you hear me now?" is made possible by grants from WMU's University Cultural Events Committee, College of Fine Arts and School of Music.

Media contact: Kevin West, 269 387-4678, kevin.west@wmich.edu


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