In Debussy's Footsteps: John Adams Composers Program Faculty Concert March 20, 2010

Crowden Music Center shines a spotlight on exciting new music from the Bay Area, with an evening of world premieres by its John Adams Young Composers Program faculty!

On March 20, 7:00pm, Oakland East Bay Symphony principals Natalie Cox and Alice Lenaghan will join Crowden's own Katrina Wreede to perform world premieres of works by Young Composers Program faculty past and present: Alexis Alrich, Molly Axtmann, Allan Crossman, Dean Curtis, John King, Arkadi Serper, Clark Suprynowicz, and Katrina Wreede.

The concert, themed "In Debussy's Footsteps," features the colorful combination of harp, flute, and viola. Young Composers Program director Alexis Alrich explains, "Debussy's Sonata for this ensemble is famous for its exquisite use of the instruments and its elegiac tone, since it was one of his last pieces. We are inspired by this masterpiece to contribute our works to this genre."

John Adams Young Composers faculty drew inspiration from not only Debussy, but also from the program's creative community. "There is a special rapport among these composers borne of teaching gifted students in the John Adams Young Composers Program," Alrich says. "The faculty concert is the embodiment of this rapport-it is our message to one another and to our students, in our common "native language," musical notes."

Crowden's John Adams Young Composers Program, a comprehensive course of study for young musicians interested in composition, offers budding composers the unusual opportunity to have their works performed by professional musicians. Founded in 2007 to honor composer and longtime Crowden supporter John Adams, the program includes private lessons, group sessions, composer symposia, workshops, summer institutes, and master classes, and provides ongoing support of living composers and original works.

For more information, visit www.crowden.org.

Official Website: http://www.crowden.org