The Denison University Music Department presents a Student Composers Concert on Wednesday (Dec. 4) at Burke Recital Hall at 8 p.m. This concert will feature newly composed music by Denison students who are studying with Ching-chu Hu, assistant professor of music, and will be performed by Denison students. The concert is free and open to the public.

"This is an exciting concert for us," says Ching-chu Hu. "Every semester all the students studying composition mount a concert of their own work. This semester is a bit unique, because three of the composers who have been studying the past couple of years are working on projects that will be completed in the spring semester. I had thought we would have a smaller concert this fall, however quite a few first-time composers are presenting their work. It is always a thrill to see a composer's 'voice' emerge as they work on their music. Their personality shines through, and each person's style is completely different from anyone else's."

The eight composers for this concert are: Corey Babb, Emily Baker, Michael Berlin, Meghan Coil, Aaron Fuleki, Emily Gonzales, Ethan McGory, and Jared Thompson. Several of them will also be performers on several works and they will be joined by Michael Akhbari, Lindsay Brown, Drew Johnson, Evan Johnston, Brittany Klintworth, Amada Reahard, Seth Rogers, Daniel Strawser, Ben Wagner, Danelle Wilbraham, and Joseph Wollard.

The pieces will range from songs to electronic music, solo works to a jazz combo. "There is something for everyone," says Ching-chu Hu. "One work was inspired by Miguel Cervantes's Don Quixote, another by the annoying spam we all receive on e-mail." Other works include text settings of Robert Frost and Gwendolyn Brooks, impressionistic reflections for piano, and newly written jazz works.

"I hope that students attending will be inspired to create their own music," says Ching-chu Hu. "That is how some of these students became involved in our department and I would be glad to talk with any student who wants to try composing."

Ching-chu Hu joined Denison University in 2000. He teaches composition and theory and is also a conductor. He earned his bachelor's degree. from Yale University, his master's. and master of fine arts degrees from the University of Iowa and his doctorate from the University of Michigan. Recently, his music was performed by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, where he served as resident composer. In addition, his music was recently performed in Sofia, Bulgaria, Moscow, and London.

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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