Lori Laitman****

Lori Laitman and Richard Hundley represented the United States in the “Songs Across the Americas Festival” from May 16-20, 2006, at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA), Conway, AR. On June 3, Laitman gave a lecture/recital on her songs for the 2006 Yale School of Music Alumni Reunion, for which she was joined by soprano Maureen McKay and saxophonist Gary Louie. Janeanne Houston’s CD The Shining Place, which includes the premiere recording of Laitman’s “Old Tunes” and “A Winter Night,” has been nominated for a Grammy Award for best classical vocal performance. You are invited to visit the composer’s website at: www.artsongs.com.

Premieres

Soprano Maureen McKay and clarinetist Laura DeLuca introduced I Never Saw Another Butterfly, in a new version for soprano and clarinet at Music of Remembrance, Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA. Baritone Robert Holden and pianist Mary Scott Goode presented This Space Available (setting of Thomas Lux), at the “Songs Across the Americas Festival” at UCA. Captivity (Toi Derricotte) was first heard in a May 22 performance by soprano Susan Marie Pierson and trumpeter Sandra Coffin at The Kaye Playhouse, Hunger College, NY. Soprano Eileen Strempel and pianist Sylvie Beaudette introduced Orange Afternoon Lover (after Margaret Atwood) at the Chautauqua Institute. And I Will Bring Them was heard in a performance by soprano Jennifer Check and pianist Laura Ward at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA.

Performances

Mezzo-soprano Mary Nessinger, baritone Robert Osborne, and pianist Thomas Sauer presented I Am in Need of Music at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY. Men with Small Heads received several performances from baritone Andrew Garland and pianist Donna Loewy: Williamsburg (VA) Regional Library; California State University, Fullerton, CA; The Phillips Collection, DC; and The Cosmos Club, DC. Faults and Jewels were presented by mezzo-soprano D’Anna Fortunato and pianist Roye Lynn Kulik at the NATS Convention, Minneapolis, MN. Round and Round was performed September 24 by soprano Jennifer Check and pianist Laura Ward at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA.

Recordings

Becoming a Redwood - Songs of Lori Laitman, Albany Records. I Never Saw Another Butterfly, new version for soprano and clarinet; Naxos Records.

Publications

“If I...” included in American Art Song for the Sacred Service, compiled and edited by Karen Leigh-Post; by Classical Vocal Reprints.

****Sigma Alpha Iota Honorary Member

Further Information

• 2004-2005 American Composers Update
• 2002-2003 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
• Lori Laitman's website
• SAI's Composers Bureau Online
• SAI's Music for Young People section