Annual American Composers Update
Donald Reid Womack
SAI Friend of the Arts Donald Reid
Womack lives in Honolulu, HI, working as Associate Professor
and chair of composition/theory at the University of
Hawaii. He was in residence at the Hambidge (GA) Center
for Creative Arts and Sciences during Nov. 2000 to work
on
Southern Portraits, a symphony in three movements
inspired by places and customs of the Southeastern United
States. Presently, he is fulfilling commissions from
Honolulu's Red Hot Lava Chamber Music Festival, Music
Teachers' National Association, and Chamber Music Hawaii.
He served as director for two "Music21C" festivals of
new music hosted by the University of Hawaii. The first,
in Mar. 1999 in conjunction with the Society of Composers
Region VII conference, featured works of 50 composers
on six concerts, and the second, in Mar. 2000 with
David
Stock as the featured guest composer, included 35
works on four concerts. Two large ensemble works received
radio broadcasts: the Kingsport Symphony's premiere
of
Bruner's Grove on east Tennessee's WETS, and
the Puerto Rico Conservatory Symphonic Wind Ensemble's
performance of
Pearl City on San Juan's WIPR.
Premieres
Commissioned to celebrate the Honolulu
Symphony's 100th anniversary, Emerald Sparks,
was premiered by the orchestra under the direction of
Samuel Wong. Bruner's Grove received its first
performance from the Kingsport (TN) Symphony, Cyrus
Ginwala, conductor. Tennessee Crossroads was
heard first with the University of Miami Symphony, conducted
by Jennifer Osborne. Adagio was premiered in
Portland, OR by the Rose City Chamber Orchestra with
Huw Edwards conducting. Under the baton of John Deliman,
Musica Sacrum debuted at the Brevard Music Festival,
with the Transylvania Chamber Strings. Lacrimosa,
for string quartet, commissioned and premiered by Pacific
International Concert Artists, in Honolulu, was heard
later in a version for viola and string orchestra, with
the University of Hawaii Chamber Orchestra, Henry Miyamura
conductor, with Anna Stewart Womack as soloist. 3D,
written for saxophonist Todd Yukumoto and pianist HyeKyung
Lee, was played first in Maui, and again in Honolulu.
Performances
Under Grant Okamura, the University
of Hawaii Symphonic Wind Ensemble performed Pearl
City in Kaneohe, HI. 23 Chinese Proverbs
was played by the New Music Ensemble of California State
University at Northridge, Daniel Kessner, director.
To Lie Silent and Weep received its fourth performance
from the Galliard String Quartet in Honolulu.
Recordings
Further Information
