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ATLANTA CHAPTER: NEWS
THAMYRIS HOLDS MASTER CLASS FOR ATLANTA-AREA COMPOSERS
(JUNE 2003)
On April
2, the contemporary music group Ensemble Thamyris held a master class
and reading session at Spivey Hall, on the campus of Clayton College
and State University in Morrow, Ga. Co-sponsored by the chapter and
the CCSU music department, both events were open to Forum members
and the school’s composition students. The class provided the
ensemble with an opportunity to play through pieces and provide feedback
to the composers. The class included readings of Steve Duncan’s
"Like Moths to the Flame," for chamber ensemble, and the
first movement of Sarah Gibson’s Trio No.1. Gibson, a high school
junior, played piano for her work as well, joining Thamyris violinist
Helen Kim and cellist Craig Hultgren . The reading session, which
took place before a public audience, included Duncan and Gibson’s
works as well as "Phrase for LL" by Chris Arrell, director
of CCSU’s composition and theory program and the organizer for
these events.
CHORAL ENSEMBLE IMPROMPTU READS WORKS BY AREA COMPOSERS
(MAY 2003)
On March
11, the chapter and the Impromptu choral ensemble held a reading session
in the resonant setting of Atlanta’s Episcopal Church of the
Epiphany. Under the baton of Director Mary Lynn Place Badarak, the
ensemble and pianist Ben Bachmann read new works by eight Atlanta-area
members — Curtis Bryant, Steve Duncan, Charles Knox, Becki Mayo,
Don Robertson, Jim Stallings, Robert Tanner, and Amir Zaheri. The
majority of the works were sacred in nature, using a wide variety
of text sources, including the "Agnus Dei" from the Requiem
Mass, biblical verse, and original poetry. Impromptu concluded the
reading with Badarak’s carol "Brightest and Best,"
winner of the 2002 Welcome Christmas! Carol Contest, sponsored by
the Forum and the Minneapolis-based ensemble VocalEssence.
OLIVER KNUSSEN MEETS WITH MEMBERS AT ASO CONCERTS
(APRIL 2003) Following the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra three concerts during the weekend of February 20, Forum members were invited to the conductor’s suite at Atlanta Symphony Hall to meet composer Oliver Knussen. The concerts, which were Knussen’s ASO conducting debut, included his Horn Concerto and "The Way to Castle Yonder" from his opera "Higglety Pigglety Pop!".