Denison University's New Music Festival, "Tutti," will feature the music of 17 living composers presented by faculty and student musicians - as well as guest artists Kalistos Chamber Orchestra and Avendo, a string duo - in three concerts. The concerts, which are free and open to the public, will be at 8 p.m. on Friday (March 24) and at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday (March 25), all in Burke Recital Hall. Each concert will have a different program.

Among the composers to be featured at the festival is Evan Chambers, who will also spend a four-day residency working with Denison students. Chambers, an Irish fiddler and Louisiana native, is currently associate professor of composition at the University of Michigan. Much of Chambers' music is influenced by Irish folk music. He won first prize in the Cincinnati Symphony Competition and in 1998 was awarded the Walter Beeler Prize by Ithaca College. Among his works on the programs are "Deep Flowers," "Fisherstreet Duo," "The Old Burying Ground," and "The Tall-Eared Man and the Wild-Eyed Fox."

Assistant Professor Ching-chu Hu, organizer of Tutti, notes that more than 300 submissions were received for participation in the festival. "The 17 composers selected span a wide variety of styles, experiences and perspectives," says Hu. "I am excited to show off Denison and our students during the various events that week and weekend."

The Kalistos Chamber Orchestra was formed in 2002 by a group of Boston musicians eager to share their common love of music and to contribute to the community. The group is fully rotational, both musically and administratively, allowing each member to explore and develop every facet of a chamber orchestra's responsibilities and roles. Chris Younghoon Kim, conductor of Kalistos, is particularly active in promoting new music. He also serves as artistic director of Brave New Works and as conductor of another Boston-based group, the Firebird Ensemble. He is on the faculty at Cornell University.

Avendo's members -- Mary Harris on viola and Cora Kuyvenhoven on violoncello -- will perform on Friday evening with Harris and Kuyvenhoven appearing individually on Saturday's concert programs. Kuyvenhoven is a member of Denison's music department faculty while Harris serves on Miami University's faculty and plays with the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus.

Other Denison music department faculty members who will perform at the concerts Include: Andy Carlson, chair of the department, Hu, Nicolas del Grazia, Belinda Andrews Smith, Kevin Wines, Kristen Grimshaw, Leslie Maaser, HyeKyung Lee, and Sarah Ramsey. The Denison Chamber Orchestra and sophomore Alexandra Wilson are also set to perform.

The composers whose music will be performed include: John Allemeier, "Constructions in Edgard"; Karim Al-Zand, "Variations on a Theme by Bartok"; Allen Brings, "Duologue 8"; Yu-Hui Chang, "Concerto for Solo Clarinet and String Orchestra"; Allan Crossman, "Flyer"; Gabriel Ian Gould, "Songs From a Child's Garden"; Jianjun He, "Reminiscence:; David Heuser, "O The White Towns"; Ching-chu Hu, "Hozho"; Gregory Hutter, "Three Pieces"; HyeKyung Lee, "Opposed Directions"; Mei-Fang Lin, "Souvenir d'un fee"; Paul Osterfield, "Six Vignettes"; and Greg Steinke, "Native American Notes: The Bitter Root of Peace."

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- Three concerts for "Tutti -- Denison University's New Music Festival"; 8 p.m., Friday (March 24), 2 p.m. Saturday (March 25), and 8 p.m. Saturday (March 25), Burke Recital Hall. Free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6220 to confirm information.

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.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575