NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Prominent composers will be commissioned to compose music for three Blair School of Music ensembles under a new program financed by the James Stephen Turner Family Charitable Foundation.
The Blair Commissions: Music for the 21st Century project will result in world-premier performances in major cities by the Blair String Quartet, the Blair Woodwind Quintet and the Blakemore Trio. The composers will also visit Nashville for the local debut of their compositions, and participate in master classes and seminars.
The project is designed to create lasting compositions, and to invite the attention of composers to the excellent ensembles and faculty at Blair School of Music, the music school at Vanderbilt University.
Mark Wait, dean of the Blair School of Music, said that it’s rare for a school of music to commission works for its faculty from the world’s leading composers.
“We are delighted and energized by this generous gift from the Turner Family Foundation,” Wait said. “This project is an opportunity for Blair and for selected composers to create new music for the new century, and it offers our ensembles an opportunity to perform exciting new works for national audiences – as official ambassadors of Vanderbilt.”
A select slate of composers will be approached.
“This is a long-term project,” Wait said. “The process of selecting a composer and his or her completion of the work may take two to three years – and possibly more– since the finest composers are often already committed to other projects for several years in advance.”
Steve Turner, chairman of the James Stephen Turner Charitable Foundation, said the foundation was delighted to assist with “this unique endeavor.”
“Under Mark Wait’s leadership, the Blair School of Music has earned a distinguished reputation as a center for creative and innovative work, making this initiative a perfect fit for the school,” Turner said.
Members of the selected performance ensembles for The Blair Commissions: Music for the 21st Century, are:
* Blair String Quartet: Christian Teal, violin; Cornelia Heard, violin; John Kochanowski, viola; Felix Wang, cello.
* Blair Woodwind Quintet: Jane Kirchner, flute; Roger Wiesmeyer, oboe; Cassandra Lee, clarinet; Cynthia Estill, bassoon; Leslie Norton, horn.
* Blakemore Trio: Amy Dorfman, piano; Carolyn Huebl, violin; Felix Wang, cello.
In a related program, Blair has invited three of its faculty soloists to commission individual works for themselves. They are Craig Nies, piano; Carolyn Huebl, violin; Leslie Norton, horn.
“These individual commissions will promote three outstanding artists in a highly visible and meaningful way, for their own aesthetic growth, and for the growth of Blair as a source of musical excellence that is becoming increasingly known around the country,” Wait said.
Media contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
Jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu