2001 Festival Season Opening Concert Saturday June 30, 2001
Lobero Theatre, 8 PM I Hear America: Celebrating the Wealth and Diversity of American Music The Festival Season Opening Concert, titled "I Hear America: Celebrating the Wealth and Diversity of American Music," features traditional and contemporary American music and includes a world premiere commissioned by the Music Academy. Performing alumni include Judith Ingolfsson (violin ’97), Ronald Sat (collaborative piano ’93, ’95, ’97) and Monique McDonald (soprano ’96, ’97). Special guests include contemporary composers Ricky Ian Gordon and Mark O’Connor and faculty artist, Warren Jones, piano. Ricky Ian Gordon has been called "one of the leading younger composers of songs" by The New York Times . His songs and song cycles have been performed by such internationally known singers as Betty Buckley, Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Futral, Rodney Gilfry, Kurt Ollmann, Teresa Stratas and Carol Vaness. His credits include operas, ballets, songs and song cycles. His new CD, "Bright Eyed Joy: The Songs of Ricky Ian Gordon" has recently been released on Nonesuch. is recognized as a gifted composer of contemporary American music. Violinist/composer/fiddler, Mr. O’Connor’s musical influences include America’s aural folk tradition and studies with the jazz violinist, Stephane Grappelli. His first recording for the Sony Classical record label, "Appalachia Waltz," was a collaboration with cellist, Yo-Yo Ma and doublebassist, Edgar Meyer. Mr. O’Connor’s compositions for this disc, including the title track, gained him worldwide recognition as a leading proponent of a new American musical idiom. | |
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