Karel Husa***

Karel Husa received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Central Arkansas, and an honorary Doctor of Humanities, from Capital University in Columbus, OH. Several festivals of the composer’s music, at which he also served as Composer-in-Residence were held throughout the year: April 18-20 at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR; April 21-23, Heidelberg College New Music Festival, Tiffin, OH; September 28-29, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI; November 17, Midwest International Clinic, Chicago, IL; and December 12-16, 2006, Illinois State University, Normal, IL.

Performances

Concertino for Piano and Wind Ensemble received performances from M. Shenan (performance conducted by S. Steele), Chicago Mid-west Clinic, Illinois State University; in May 2006 from I. Drinkanova (performance conducted by M. Scatterdray), Eastman Wind Ensemble, Eastman School of Music; and in November from R. B. Bekkhus and the Larvik Wind Orchestra (conducted by O. T. Lysebo) and B. Bryski and the Cornell University Wind Ensemble (conducted by C. T. Johnston), in Ithaca, NY. The concert band version of Music for Prague 1968 was heard in a performance conducted by S. Steele, Illinois State University, Midwest Intern Clinic, Chicago IL; a performance at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, conducted by Laura Rexroth; at the Japan Band Convention, under the direction of Joseph Missal, Oklahoma State University; and by the University of North Carolina Wind Ensemble, led by M. Votta. The orchestral version of Music for Prague 1968 was given a performance by Tatsuya Shimono conducting the New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo, Japan; performance by V. Yampolsky, leading the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Evanston, IL; and by T. Kuchar, directing the Janácek Philharmonic, Ostrava, Czech Republic. The FAMA Quartet performed String Quartet No. 4 in Philharmonia Hall, Prague, Czech Republic. Elegie et Rondau was presented by Petrick Meigan at the Shanghai Conservatory in China, while Evocations of Slovakia, was heard in performances by J. Hlavac and Stamic Quartet in Vienna and Madrid, and the Luis Slaby Trio, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Publications

Eight Bohemian Sketches, flute, clarinet and piano; Schott.

Recordings

Apotheosis of the Earth and Music for Prague 1968, Louisville Orchestra, Karel Husa and George Mester, conductors; FIRST Edition Recording, Karel Husa.

***Sigma Alpha Iota National Arts Associate

Further Information

• 2003-2004 American Composers Update
• 2001-2002 American Composers Update
• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• 1999-2000 American Composers Update
• 1998-1999 American Composers Update
• 1997-1998 American Composers Update
• 1996-1997 American Composers Update
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online
• SAI's Music for Young People section