Denison University faculty members Andrew Carlson, violinist, and Nelson Harper, pianist, present a concert featuring the works of five contemporary composers at 8 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 22) in Burke Recital Hall. This concert is free and open to the public.

Carlson hopes to "stretch some ears" with this show, the first of four scheduled performances on a tour of university campuses. The five works and composers to be featured are: "Wire Variations" by John Allemeier, professional composer from Heidelberg, Germany; "5 Aphorisms" by Gardner Read, professional composer from Manchester, Mass.; "For Andy Carlson" by Richard Hervig, professor of theory at the Julliard School; "White Vision" by Lewis Nielson, professor of composition at Oberlin University; and "Finnegan's Wake" by David Gompper, professor of composition and director of the Center for New Music at the University of Iowa. All of these works were composed in the 1990s. After their opening program at Denison, the duo will continue their tour with performances at the University of Iowa, the University of Georgia, and Furman University.

Associate Professor Carlson joined the Denison faculty last fall and currently teaches violin, music history, and directs the Baroque Orchestra. Carlson earned bachelor and master of music degrees (1992 and 1994) at the University of Georgia and his doctorate (1999) in musical arts in performance and pedagogy at the University of Iowa. He served as concertmaster of the University of Iowa's Symphony Orchestra and its Chamber Orchestra and organized the Baroque Orchestra at Denison. In addition to his experience as a classical violinist, Carlson began learning traditional fiddle music from his grandfather at age 5. He has won numerous fiddle contests and has twice been named the Georgia State Champion Fiddler and was recently named the 2000 Ohio Grand Champion Fiddler. As a studio musician and string arranger he has recorded for companies including Warner Bros., Atlantic, Elektra, and Polydor. His most recent major label appearance is with the band R.E.M.

Harper joined the Denison faculty in 1987 and is a studio instructor of piano. Harper earned bachelor of music, master of music, and doctor of musical arts degrees from the Ohio State University and was the first pianist ever to receive Ohio State's Distinguished Teaching Award. He has released two compact disc recordings of duo sonatas with violinist Michael Davis - a 1990 release of music by Wilfred Josephs and a 1992 release of John Ireland compositions. Both recordings received a "five star" rating in Classical Pulse and were selected as recordings of the month by Tower Records. Harper has appeared in summer music festivals, including the Grand Teton Music Festival, and has been heard several times in both solo and chamber music performances for live broadcasts on Chicago's fine arts radio station, WFMT. He frequently gives master classes and recitals at other institutions.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

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