Annual American Composers Update

Elizabeth Ruth Beeson

A Houston resident, SAI member Elizabeth Ruth Beeson works out of her home and at several schools and churches in the area. She now plays piano and percussion in a Christian contemporary band. On December 12, 1996, she played for a children's choir from Houston's St. Anne's Catholic School on a KHOU-TV television program. In 1997, besides her normal piano schedule, she accompanied a dance company from Brussels, Belgium at Houston's Worthem Theatre (Apr. 4); played at Houston's Don Coleman Community Coliseum for the Spring Woods High School graduation (May 24); accompanied woodwind students in concert; and performed at numerous school festivals. The St. Francis Episcopal School, in Houston, has asked her to compose the music for its school song.

Performances

Beeson played the following original piano works in Houston in 1996: Aeolian Mode, at Inwood Baptist Church (Sept. 29); The New Birth, at St. Philips United Methodist Church (Oct. 27); and Passing Thoughts, at Inwood Baptist Church (Nov. 17). On Oct. 31, 1996, a tape of A Tribute, piano and orchestra version with the composer soloing and directing, was heard at St. Francis Episcopal School. A program at St. Anne's Catholic School included Beeson presenting her piano transcription of her Song of the Bell, Jan. 29, 1997.