Composers John Corigliano and John Mackey are lending their expertise and talent to the MSU College of Music as artists in residence Sept. 24-27.
American composer John Corigliano, who has been a guest composer at MSU in the past, received an Academy Award for original music score in 1999 for the film The Red Violin.
His scores are some of the richest, unusual, and celebrated bodies of work to be released within the past 40 years. In addition to the Oscar, his music, which has been described as theperfect harmony of traditional and innovative, has earned him the Pulitzer Prize, the Grawemeyer Award, three Grammy Awards, and has been performed and recorded by many prominent orchestras, soloists, and chamber musicians throughout the world. Corigliano serves on the composition faculty at the Juilliard School of Music and holds the position of distinguished professor of music at Lehman College, City University of New York.
John Mackey, who has also held residencies at MSU in past years, studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music with John Corigliano and Donald Erb. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. Mackey has focused on writing music for dance and symphonic winds in recent years. His works have been performed at the Sydney Opera House, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center to name a few.
Students will play works by both Corigliano and Mackey, all while gathering feedback from the composersthemselves. A composer seminar is scheduled for 3-4 p.m. Sept. 26 in Room 135, Music Building. A pre-concert lecture will be held that same day at 6:45 p.m., in the Grand Tier Lounge, Wharton Center. These two events are free and open to the public.
“This is an incredibly unique experience for our students,” says Kevin Sedatole, director of MSU Bands and professor of music. “To be able to perform a piece for a composer is quite eye-opening and educational. The personal feedback from Corigliano and Mackey will allow students to grow as musicians in ways they never thought possible.”
Three MSU ensembles will be presenting works of Corigliano, and Wind Symphony will be present the music of Mackey as well.
Symphony Band - 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24, Wharton Center
• John Madden, conductor
• John Corigliano, guest composer
• Dmitri Berlinsky, violin, guest soloist
Repertoire:
Bryant - Anthem
Corigliano - The Red Violin: Chaconne for Violin and Wind Ensemble
Ticheli - Angels in the Architecture
Nixon - Fiesta Del Pacifico
Gilmore - Famous 22nd Regiment March
Wind Symphony - 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26, Wharton Center
• Lindsay Kesselman, soprano, guest soloist
• Kevin Sedatole, conductor
• David Thornton, guest conductor
Repertoire
Bryant - Ecstatic Fanfare
Corigliano - Mr. Tambourine Man
Mackey - Frozen Cathedral
Corigliano - Gazebo Dances
Symphony Orchestra - 8 p.m. Sept. 27, Wharton Center
• Guy Yehuda, clarinet, guest soloist
• John Corigliano, guest composer
• Kevin Noe, conductor
Repertoire
Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Corigliano - Clarinet Concerto
Lutoslawski - Concerto for Orchestra
Tickets for the three concerts are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and free for students and those under 18. They can be purchased at the College of Music online box office at music.msu.edu or at the door.