4/19/2012
 

UW-Stevens Point and UW-Eau Claire students collaborate with composer

Composer Baljinder Sekhon and students from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will collaborate with one another as the composer serves a residency at both universities in April.

Prior to his visit to UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday, April 24, and Wednesday, April 25, the percussion ensembles from both schools will collaborate in concert at UW-Eau Claire on Monday, April 23.

On Tuesday, Sekhon will rehearse with the UW-Stevens Point Percussion Ensemble at 10 a.m. in Michelsen Hall of the Noel Fine Arts Center.

Wednesday, Sekhon will give a presentation at the Department of Music colloquium at 4 p.m. in Michelsen Hall, followed by a lecture at 6:30 p.m. in Room 221 of the Noel Fine Arts Center. During these presentations, he will discuss his works as well as the state of new music today, its role in society, current compositional trends and ideas, and what community members can do to support contemporary composers and performers.

On Wednesday evening, the UW-Eau Claire Percussion Ensemble will join their counterpart in Michelsen Hall for another collaboration concert at 7:30 p.m., featuring guest artists Jamie Jordan, soprano, and Doug O’Connor, saxophone. The concert will include four of Sekhon’s percussion ensemble works, which were composed over the span of five years and exhibit the wide range of interests and influences that are found in his works.

All events are free and open to the public. Sekhon’s residency is made possible through a Meet the Composer Grant through New Music USA, with additional support provided from the UW-Eau Claire Academic Affairs Professional Development Program.

For more information about the New Music USA grant program and Sekhon’s residency, visit www.newmusicusa.org/events/connor-duo-presents-baljinder-sekhon. For more information about Sekhon’s visit to both universities, contact Assistant Professor Sean Connors at 715-346-2459 or sean.connors@uwsp.edu.