Annual American Composers Update

SAI National Arts Associate David Stock lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where he conducts the New Music Ensemble and is Professor of Composition at Duquesne University. Most of his orchestral, band/wind ensemble, and contemporary ensemble works are now published by MMB-Norruth Music. On a 1996-97 sabbatical, he wrote In the High Country and Second Symphony, both commissioned by the Seattle Symphony; Drive Time, for orchestra; A Little Miracle, commissioned by the New York Chamber Symphony for mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux; Viola Concerto, commissioned by the Seattle Symphony for principal violist Susan Gulkis; Santa Fe Salsa, commissioned by Andres Cardenes; Fourth String Quartet, commissioned by the Blair Quartet; Evening Shadows, commissioned by HET Trio (Holland); and Jerry's Jump, for solo flute. He was the featured speaker at the East-West Music Conference, in Boston, and served as guest lecturer at the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing; the Shanghai Conservatory, the University of Southern California, the University of Washington, UCLA, Central Washington University, Cornish College of the Arts, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in China he conducted Eclipse with the Beijing Contemporary Ensemble. Almost 200 NPR radio stations broadcast his Violin Concerto, with Andres Cardenes and the Pittsburgh Symphony, under Lorin Maazel.

Conducted by Gerard Schwarz, the Seattle Symphony premiered In the High Country, May 1997, and will present Stock's Second Symphony in March 1998. The Cuarteto Latinoamericano presented his Third String Quartet. The Blair Quartet is scheduled to introduce his Fourth String Quartet in March 1998.

In August 1997 the Queensland Symphony performed Yeruha in Brisbane, Australia, with Paul Dean, clarinet, and Ron Spigelman, conductor. Quick Opener, which the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, under Stock, played in September 1997, was also heard in Beijing and at the University of Southern California. Night Vision had performances, conducted by the composer, at Vanderbilt University, October 1997; and at the Syracuse Society for New Music, January 1998. In Seattle, Sonora presented A Little Lightmusic. The Duquesne Contemporary Ensemble gave a performance of Parallel Worlds.

Night Vision; The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Stock, conductor; MMC Recordings Curtain Up. Santa Fe Salsa; Ocean Records.