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October 17, 2001
New tunes strike up at CSUS at the
24th annual Festival of New American Music
 Three
world premieres and more than 25 West Coast premieres debut
at California State University, Sacramento's Festival of New
American Music, Nov. 7 -18. In keeping with its 24-year tradition,
all events are free with the exception of one finale concert
at the Crocker Art Museum, where museum admission prices apply.
The festival celebrates our nation's new music by bringing
some of the world's finest performers and composers to CSUS,
combined with a plethora of performances by the University's
faculty and students as well as renowned local artists.
World premier performances by local composers include a concert
by the woodwind trio Music Now featuring works by CSUS music
professor Stephen Blumberg; a grand opus by Howard Hersh featuring
soprano Kerry Walsh, tenor Stephen Rumph and the Nevada Union
High School Chamber Choir; and finally guitarist/composer
Gilda Taffet offers a new work featuring CSUS music professor
and soprano Claudia Kitka.
The opening night gala performance at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov.
7 - at the Sterling Hotel located in downtown Sacramento at
1300 H Street - will be broadcast live on KXPR and features
the world-renowned Dorian Wind Quintet, Music Now, California
Brass, and the CSUS faculty brass group with guest artist
Marie Spezial on trumpet. The evening includes samples of
regional wines and decadent desserts.
This year's keynote speaker is the esteemed East Coast composer
Eric Ewazen from New York City's Juilliard School of Music
who will lead a lively discussion of music while examples
are simultaneously performed by various ensembles at noon,
Thursday, Nov. 8 in the Music Recital Hall in Capistrano Hall.
His works will also be featured in the opening gala performance
in addition to being performed by several groups throughout
the festival.
New to the festival this year are Just Strings, a microtonal
trio carrying on the legacy of California-born iconoclast
Harry Partch; Stanford pianist Thomas Schultz; and guitar
virtuoso Seth Josel, a specialist in contemporary picking
and plucking. Four world-class groups are also returning for
another year at the festival - the New York New Music Ensemble,
the Cassatt String Quartet, the Core Ensemble and the Talujon
Percussion Quartet.
Visiting composers include Richard Festinger, Paulo Ortiz
and Hyo-shin Na, as well Eric Ewazen, Howard Hersh and Stephen
Blumberg.
As always, the festival's performers will bring traveling
workshops as well as concerts to more than 15 area elementary,
junior and high schools and local community colleges. The
festival also provides a platform for CSUS students to shine
in the spotlight with two concerts/competitions - one for
performers and one for composers.
The grand finale at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18 at the Music
Recital Hall in Capistrano Hall features the CSUS Symphonic
Wind Ensemble along with the group California Brass.
With more than 50 events, the festival is guaranteed to have
something for everyone. For more information call (916) 278-5155.
Media assistance is available by contacting CSUS public affairs
at (916) 278-6156.
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For
further information send E-Mail to infodesk@csus.edu or
contact
Public Affairs (916)
278-6156.
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