UCO Music Festival to Feature Contemporary Composer

and Performer Susan Botti

April 12, 2007

The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music will present a music festival featuring contemporary composer and performer Susan Botti, April 22 through 26.

Botti will join the UCO Wind Symphony and Women’s chorus at 7:30 p.m., April 25, in a performance of her original work “Cosmosis” in Mitchell Hall Theater.

In addition, she will conduct a lecture on “Composing and Singing New Music,” at 3:30 p.m., April 23, and participate in a panel discussion with UCO School of Music faculty at 3:30 p.m., April 24, entitled “Composer, Conductor, Ensemble, and Audience: Bringing the Score to Life,” in the School of Music building.

Ms. Botti specializes in the performance of contemporary music    by composers of diverse styles, including:                         Susan Botti

Gubaidulina, Crumb, Kurtág, Cage,

Chihara, Pintscher, and Partch, among others.

She has been awarded the 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship and the 2005 Frederic A. Juilliard/Walter Damrosch Rome Prize in Music Composition. During the 2005-2006 seasons she was in residence at the American Academy in Rome.

“We are thrilled to have an artist the caliber of Susan Botti at our first ever music festival,” said Dr. Jerry Neil Smith, interim director of the UCO School of Music.

“Ms. Botti is not only a gifted composer but a talented soprano who weaves theatrical influence into her music to keep the audience spellbound.”

Three additional concerts also are planned as part of the music festival. The UCO Percussion Consort will feature the new music of composer Steve Reich and others at 7:30 p.m., April 22, at the Jazz Lab.

The UCO Symphony and Chamber Orchestra will present a program featuring La peri Fanfare by Paul Dukas and the Mozart Horn Concerto in E-Flat at 7:30 p.m., April 24, in Mitchell Hall Theater, and the UCO Symphonic Band will conclude the festival with a diverse program including “Cajun Folk Songs” by Frank Ticheli, and “Blue Alien Accumulation” by Timothy Broege at 7:30 p.m., April 26, in Mitchell Hall.

All events and concerts are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the UCO School of Music at (405) 974-5004.

Page updated 4/12/07