Annual American Composers Update

SAI Patroness Marilyn Shrude serves as Professor of Music (composition) and Chair of the Bowling Green (OH) State Univ. Department of Music Composition/History. In 1998, she won the Cleveland Arts Prize, becoming the first woman composer to receive the award in its 37-year history, and the ASCAP/Chamber Music America Award for Adventuresome Programming (Festival Category).

Vladimir Valek conducted the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra in the first performance of La Chanson de printemps . . ., for string orchestra, May 3, 1999 at Smetana Hall, in Prague, The Czech Republic. On May 9, 1999, How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place, for SATB choir and organ, premiered with the First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green choir, directed by Nancy Wolcott.

During the composer's residency at Vanderbilt Univ., Oct. 22-26, 1998, John Sampen, saxophone; Shrude, piano; Christian Teal, violin; and the Vanderbilt Univ. Orchestra, under Robin Fountain presented Shadows and Dawning, Renewing the Myth, Notturno: In Memoriam Toru Takemitsu, Continuum (Postscript '97), and Passage of Years. Valek led the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra in Into Light and Passage of Years at Symphony Hall, in Boston, MA, Dec. 2, 1998, and at Smetana Hall, May 3, 1999. An Indiana Univ. program featured Chant, for chamber orchestra, with the Indiana Univ. New Music Ensemble, James Johnston, conductor, Dec. 6, 1998. On Feb. 19, 1999, Sampen soloed with the Indiana State Univ. Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble, in Terre Haute.

Renewing the Myth, alto saxophone and piano; Editions Henry Lemoine.

A Window Always Open on the Sea, for cello, piano, and percussion; The CORE Ensemble; New World Records Bending the Light 80559-2. Into Light; the Bowling Green Philharmonia, Emily Freeman Brown, conductor; Albany Records The Composer's Voice Troy 321.