University of Chicago New Music Ensemble Presents the World Premiere of Alex Stephenson’s "Dorian Gray Listened"
International pianist Amy Briggs performs on concert of 20th- and 21st-century works.
Chicago, IL, May 08, 2010 --(PR.com)-- On Saturday, May 8th at 4:00 pm, the New Music Ensemble presents the World Premiere of Alex Stephenson’s “Dorian Gray Listened” in Fulton Recital Hall, 1010 E. 59th Street, Goodspeed Hall, 4th floor on the University campus.
Alex Stephenson, a native of Philadelphia, is an undergraduate music student at the University of Chicago. His composition teachers have included April Mok and Yao Chen in Chicago and Joseph Nocella in Philadelphia.
Alex’s music has been performed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, members of eighth blackbird, the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble, radio station WRSU-FM (Rutgers University), and Suburban Music School (Wallingford, PA). He has been invited to attend such festivals as Music09 and the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. Other recent engagements include a masterclass with Frederic Rzewski.
Also an accomplished instrumentalist, Alex presently studies piano with Svetlana Belsky at the University of Chicago, where he has been especially involved in performing contemporary music. Previously, he studied piano with Joseph Nocella and cello with Mara Parker, both in Philadelphia.
Most recently, he was a composition student at the Music09 Festival in Blonay, Switzerland, where his Three Movements for Flute, Cello, and Piano was given its world premiere. He also worked there with internationally acclaimed artists eighth blackbird, Chen Yi, Joel Hoffman, and Frederic Rzewski.
The young composer says of his work:
"The initial inspiration came directly from reading a monologue from Wilde's novel in which Lord Henry Wotton addresses Dorian Gray for the first time; I was especially struck by the text's vivid imagery and high dramatic potential. I then collaborated with Luke Dumas, an accomplished writer, friend, and fellow student here, who rearranged the original text so that it progresses neatly between three principal moods. This edited version begins with philosophical thoughts about Beauty in general, moves to a more direct admiration of Dorian Gray's beauty in particular, and ends with warnings that youth -- even Dorian's -- does not last long. This organization clearly suggested a form for the piece, and the text itself provided me with a wealth of ideas for musical expression within each section. My work on the piece continued nicely from there, and I completed it in September 2009."
The evening’s program also includes George Crumb’s Five Pieces for Piano, selections from Chick Corea’s Children’s Songs, Francis Poulenc’s Élégie and Déploration from Oboe Sonata, selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Songs of Travel, selections from Magnus Lindberg’s Six Jubilees, and Arne Mellnäs’s Capricorn Flakes.
Performers include: Alex Stephenson, piano and keyboard; Amy Briggs, piano; Oliver McDonald, oboe; Mark Winston, baritone; Eric Pancer, percussion; Christopher Dunlap, keyboard; Chi-Hyun Kim, clarinet; and Valerie Moore, viola.
Alex Stephenson
Alex began his musical studies at age six and has been composing since age eleven. In 2007, he was a piano and composition student at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, where his Concert Piece for Cello and Piano was premiered by PGSA faculty members Ovidiu Marinescu and Joseph Ferretti. In 2008, Alex’s high school senior recital in piano and composition was presented by Suburban Music School, where he premiered his Fantasy for Piano. Suburban Music School has also presented numerous performances of Fuga Appassionata and May The 3Road Rise Up to Meet You, with soprano Barbara Nyce.
Upcoming projects include a new work for the Belsky-Maxwell piano duo. In summer 2010, he will be an Arts Studio Associate at NIRMAN in Varanasi, India. During the 2010-2011 academic year, he will study music abroad at King’s College London.
Quick Facts
What: New Music Ensemble
Dorian Gray Listened (World Premiere)
Barbara Schubert, director
When: Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Where: Fulton Recital Hall
1010 E. 59th St., on the University of Chicago campus
Admission: Free.
Event Hotline: 773.702.8069 • music.uchicago.edu
Persons who require assistance should call in advance: 773.702.8484.
###
Alex Stephenson, a native of Philadelphia, is an undergraduate music student at the University of Chicago. His composition teachers have included April Mok and Yao Chen in Chicago and Joseph Nocella in Philadelphia.
Alex’s music has been performed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, members of eighth blackbird, the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble, radio station WRSU-FM (Rutgers University), and Suburban Music School (Wallingford, PA). He has been invited to attend such festivals as Music09 and the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. Other recent engagements include a masterclass with Frederic Rzewski.
Also an accomplished instrumentalist, Alex presently studies piano with Svetlana Belsky at the University of Chicago, where he has been especially involved in performing contemporary music. Previously, he studied piano with Joseph Nocella and cello with Mara Parker, both in Philadelphia.
Most recently, he was a composition student at the Music09 Festival in Blonay, Switzerland, where his Three Movements for Flute, Cello, and Piano was given its world premiere. He also worked there with internationally acclaimed artists eighth blackbird, Chen Yi, Joel Hoffman, and Frederic Rzewski.
The young composer says of his work:
"The initial inspiration came directly from reading a monologue from Wilde's novel in which Lord Henry Wotton addresses Dorian Gray for the first time; I was especially struck by the text's vivid imagery and high dramatic potential. I then collaborated with Luke Dumas, an accomplished writer, friend, and fellow student here, who rearranged the original text so that it progresses neatly between three principal moods. This edited version begins with philosophical thoughts about Beauty in general, moves to a more direct admiration of Dorian Gray's beauty in particular, and ends with warnings that youth -- even Dorian's -- does not last long. This organization clearly suggested a form for the piece, and the text itself provided me with a wealth of ideas for musical expression within each section. My work on the piece continued nicely from there, and I completed it in September 2009."
The evening’s program also includes George Crumb’s Five Pieces for Piano, selections from Chick Corea’s Children’s Songs, Francis Poulenc’s Élégie and Déploration from Oboe Sonata, selections from Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Songs of Travel, selections from Magnus Lindberg’s Six Jubilees, and Arne Mellnäs’s Capricorn Flakes.
Performers include: Alex Stephenson, piano and keyboard; Amy Briggs, piano; Oliver McDonald, oboe; Mark Winston, baritone; Eric Pancer, percussion; Christopher Dunlap, keyboard; Chi-Hyun Kim, clarinet; and Valerie Moore, viola.
Alex Stephenson
Alex began his musical studies at age six and has been composing since age eleven. In 2007, he was a piano and composition student at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts, where his Concert Piece for Cello and Piano was premiered by PGSA faculty members Ovidiu Marinescu and Joseph Ferretti. In 2008, Alex’s high school senior recital in piano and composition was presented by Suburban Music School, where he premiered his Fantasy for Piano. Suburban Music School has also presented numerous performances of Fuga Appassionata and May The 3Road Rise Up to Meet You, with soprano Barbara Nyce.
Upcoming projects include a new work for the Belsky-Maxwell piano duo. In summer 2010, he will be an Arts Studio Associate at NIRMAN in Varanasi, India. During the 2010-2011 academic year, he will study music abroad at King’s College London.
Quick Facts
What: New Music Ensemble
Dorian Gray Listened (World Premiere)
Barbara Schubert, director
When: Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Where: Fulton Recital Hall
1010 E. 59th St., on the University of Chicago campus
Admission: Free.
Event Hotline: 773.702.8069 • music.uchicago.edu
Persons who require assistance should call in advance: 773.702.8484.
###
Contact
University of Chicago Department of Music
Rashida N. Black
773.702.3427
music.uchicago.edu
Rashida N. Black
773.702.3427
music.uchicago.edu
Contact
Categories