University of Albany Presents Music and Culture Symposium

The University at Albany's Department of Music and Theatre of the College of Arts and Sciences will host the upcoming 2015 New Music & Culture Symposium scheduled to take place at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center during the last weekend of January.

Organized by Max Lifchitz - the composer/performer and long-time University at Albany faculty member -- the conference will consist of 9 public concerts, 4 lecture/recitals, 2 panel discussions and a master class. The event will celebrate the artistic accomplishments of composers and performers affiliated with the SUNY system.

The symposium will feature music by twenty-nine composers as performed by The Buffalo Ensemble, the Stony Brook Contemporary Players and the New York City based North/South Consonance Ensemble. Distinguished soloists will include soprano Martha Herr - the American singer residing in Brazil; baritone Joseph Han; Canadian violinist and Stony Brook graduate Claudia Schaer; oboist Karen Hosmer; trumpeter Allyson Keyser; French hornist Ann Ellsworth; percussion virtuoso Tom Kolor; guitarists James Budinich and Zane Merritt; and pianists Mark Evans and Eric Heubner.

In addition to several recent works employing new technologies also of interest will be the local preview of innovative electronic instruments such as the Soundplane (performed by William Pfaff) and the Theremin Cello (performed by Jonathan Golove).

Augusta Read Thomas - the former composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony - will serve as Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar and give her key note addresses on Friday afternoon January 30 at 1:15 PM. She will discuss and provide examples of her recent works and also talk about the relationship between composers, musical institutions and the public.

Joel Chadabe - founder of Intelligent Music, New Music World and University at Albany Faculty Emeritus - will give the second keynote address on Saturday January 31 at 11 AM. Mr. Chadabe's lecture will focus on the impact of recent technological innovations on music making.

All the events are free and open to the public.

For the complete schedule of events please visit
http://www.albany.edu/music/new_music_culture_symposium.shtml

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