MEDIA CONTACT: Judy Moore at 847-491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

September 21, 2004

WFMT to Air Music Series

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, WFMT (98.7 FM) will launch a weekly 10-part radio series showcasing Northwestern University School of Music faculty, ensembles, distinguished alumni and guest artists in performance and conversation.

Each hour-long “Music From Northwestern” broadcast will feature commercial or archival recordings from Northwestern University music venues or from various performance halls around the world. The broadcast series will be hosted by WFMT program host Kerry Frumkin.

Each program will have a different theme and feature various School of Music faculty members and performances related to that theme,” said Richard Van Kleeck, Northwestern’s director of concert activities and co-producer of the radio series with Jan Weller, WFMT-FM’s production coordinator and program host.

School of Music Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery will be a guest on the first broadcast that Van Kleeck describes as a sampler of upcoming programs in the series.

The introductory Oct. 3 broadcast will feature major ensemble, faculty and student group performances. It will start with a Bach ‘Toccata’ performed by the Symphonic Wind Ensemble conducted by Mallory Thompson, director of bands, and end whimsically with a recent Monster Piano Concert performance of 30 pianists seated at 10 Steinway pianos playing Bizet’s ‘Overture to Carmen’ on the stage of Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

In addition to airing examples of the Band Program and last spring’s Monster Piano Concert, the first program will feature the Choral Program and alumni composer Ned Rorem’s “Love Divine, All Love Excelling” performed by the University Chorale, conducted by faculty member Robert A. Harris.

Also on the first program, a segment on the Orchestra Program will feature Victor Yampolsky conducting the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra in “March To The Scaffold” from Hector Berlioz’s “Symphony Fantastique.”

During the Oct. 3 broadcast, listeners will hear faculty horn player Gail Williams play one movement for horn and piano from Jan Koetsier’s “Scherzo Brilliante,” a performance that also featured pianist Mary Ann Covert.

Representing the voice department during the first program will be faculty baritone Sherrill Milnes singing the aria “O Vin Dissipe La Tristesse” from Ambrose Thomas’ “Hamlet” that features the New Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Anton Guadagno.

Also featured on the broadcast will be a spring 2004 archival performance of Hans Jensen conducting a Northwestern student cello ensemble in Samuel Barber’s “Adagio” arranged for 20 cellos.

Spotlighting the composition faculty will be soprano Christine Brandes singing an excerpt from Augusta Read Thomas’ “In My Sky at Twilight -- “Deeper Than All Roses” with Pierre Boulez conducting the Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW Ensemble.

The program will include a recording of John Adams, the inaugural winner of the School of Music’s $100,000 Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Musical Composition conducting the London Sinfonietta in “Hoe-down (Mad Cow)” from “Gnarly Buttons,” a work he composed in 1998.

An example of Northwestern’s Jazz Program will feature a live 2003 recording of a Northwestern University jazz quintet performing student Kobie Watkins’ “Bone Blues.”

The final program of the series will focus on music and artists from previous Winter Chamber Musical Festivals as well as the upcoming 2005 Winter Chamber Music Festival (Jan. 7 to 23) with guest artists Daniel Barenboim, David Shifrin, Ani Kavafian, André-Michel Schub and School of Music faculty.

Listeners will hear excerpts from previous performances as well as musical samples of artists scheduled to appear during the new 12-day string festival. Titled “Rite of Strings,” it will feature work from Bach to Django (March 29-April 9, 2005), with guest violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, the Assads, bassist Edgar Meyer, Mark O’Connor’s Hot String Trio, cellist Carter Brey, and a Monster String Finale.

The schedule of upcoming WFMT-FM (98.7) programs follows:

Oct. 3, School of Music Radio Series Preview and series highlights; Oct. 10, Orchestra Program; Oct. 17, Choral Program; Oct. 24, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band; Oct. 31, Student Instrumental Performances; Nov. 7, Vocal and Opera Program; Nov. 14, Jazz Program; Nov. 21, Faculty Composers and Nemmers Prize Winner; Nov. 28, Faculty Performance Highlights; and Dec. 5, Finale -- “Winter Chamber Musical Festival” and “Rite of Strings” highlights.

For more information about the WFMT radio series go to www.music.northwestern.edu or call  (847) 491-5726.

For more information about the two upcoming music series go to www.northwestern.edu/pick-staiger or call (847) 467-4000.