October 21, 2003

Modern music showcased at Festival of New American Music

MOSAIC

2003 Festival of New American Music - Schedule of Events

The Festival of New American Music returns to California State University, Sacramento Nov. 5 to 16 for its 26th year as one of the nation’s longest running annual events dedicated to contemporary music.

All festival events are open to the public and nearly all are free. Included are concerts, lectures, classes and presentations at area schools. Venues range from the University’s Music Recital Hall to downtown Sacramento’s Sterling Hotel to the historic Crocker Art Museum.

Local performers and composers from the CSUS music department will showcase their considerable talents alongside a lineup of visiting artists of the highest caliber from across the nation. The exclusive list of performers includes new music ensemble eighth blackbird, New York-based MOSAIC, the Cassatt String Quartet, violin virtuoso Rolf Schulte and pianist James Winn. Visiting composers include Rand Steiger, Ross Bauer, Alex Shapiro, Belinda Reynolds, Andrew Imbrie, Wayne Peterson and, as keynote speaker, Steven Mackey.

Steven Mackey

Mackey, a professor of music at Princeton University, cut his musical teeth on the electric guitar before turning toward concert music. He has composed for orchestras, chamber ensembles, dance and opera, all to great critical acclaim. Returning to the electric guitar in the mid-1980s, he has performed his original compositions for the instrument worldwide.

Featured again this year are cutting-edge performances of modern music coupled with electronic imagery. Works from composer Stephen Blumberg and artist Rachel Clarke, both CSUS professors, along with the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States, will be presented in this multi-media format.

For more information, contact the CSUS music department at (916) 278-5155. For media assistance, contact public affairs at (916) 278-6156.

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