Annual American Composers Update

John W. Pozdro

A Lawrence, KS resident, John W. Pozdro is retired from teaching at the University of Kansas. He received a 1997-98 ASCAP award in the Serious Music category. New listings appear in Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Classical Musicians, from Schirmer, 1997; Who's Who in America, 52nd edition; and Carillon: The Evolution of a Concert Instrument in North America, 1996. On June 7, 1997, at the University of Kansas, he presented a paper, "Composing for the Carillon," at the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) conference, where he was honored for his contribution to the instrument's literature.

Premieres

The GCNA conference included the premiere of Winds of Autumn, with Albert Gerken, carillonneur, June 3, 1997.

Performances

Other works heard at the convention included Variations on a Slavonic Theme, with John Gouwens (June 3); Landscape, with Gerken (June 3); Landscape II, with Sally Slade (June 4); Rustic Dance, with Karel Keldermans (June 5); Landscape, with Robert Byrnes (June 6); Tryptich, with David Hunsberger (June 6); and Variations on a Slavonic Theme, with Donald Cook (June 7). On Mar. 10 and 17, 1996, Larry Williams conducted the Youth Symphony of Kansas City in Music for a Youth Symphony. David Wehr played Seven Preludes for Piano at the University of Kansas Piano Institute, June 5, 1997. As part of the International Festival of Carillon Music, Keldermans performed Rustic Dance on the Rees Memorial Carillon, June 22, 1997.

Publications

Winds of Autumn; GCNA, June 1997.

Further Information

For more complete information, see John Pozdro's entry in our Composers Bureau Online.