Annual American Composers Update
Neil McKay
Neil McKay makes his home in Honolulu, HI. He was composer-in-residence
at the Charles Ives Center for American Music, at the
Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Charleston, SC, May 22-29, 1997.
In July 1997 he was awarded a $5,000 Individual Artist
Fellowship by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and
the Arts, the state's highest honor for professional artists.
Premieres
On Dec. 28, 1997, Henry Miyamura, clarinet, and Marianne
Miyamura, piano, introduced
Sonatina in Honolulu's
Orvis Auditorium. Also presented in Orvis Auditorium was
From a Jade Terrace, six Chinese poems for soprano
and chamber ensemble, with Vicki Gorman, soprano; Jean
Harling, flute; Gregory Dubay, cello; and Bichuan Li,
piano, Mar. 17, 1997. Premieres at Honolulu's Kennedy
Theatre included
Prelude and Fugue, with the University
of Hawaii Wind Ensemble (Feb. 24, 1997); and
Kabuki
Mikado, arranged for Japanese and Western instruments,
with 13 performances (Nov. 22-Dec. 8, 1996).
Performances
Soprano Jean-Anne Teal, accompanied by pianist Louise
Lerch, sang
The Deaf Men and the Diva at the NATS
National Convention, held in St. Louis, MO, Dec. 28, 1996.
In 1997
World(s), for harp or koto, received performances
from harpist Constance Uejio, at the Mid-Pacific Institute,
in Honolulu (Feb. 1); and from koto player Ricardo Trimillos,
at Bowling Green State University (Mar. 11). Donald Portnoy
conducted the Charleston (SC) Symphony in
Kaleidoscope
at the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul. 1997 participants
in the summer "Operatunities" program presented McKay's
operas
La'Ie'Ikawao,
Princess of the Rainbow
(excerpts) and
Kahalaopuna, Princess of Manoa at
Orvis Auditorium (June 25 and 27); and sang excerpts from
Kahalaopuna at the Honolulu Academy of Arts Theatre
(Aug. 15-16).
Publications
The Deaf Men and the Diva; for soprano and piano
and/or chamber ensemble; Leyerle Publications.
Sonatina;
clarinet and piano; Roncorp Publications.
Recordings
Honolulu; Lyle Ritz, ukulele; Roy Sakuma Productions,
Inc.
Time CD.
Honolulu; Ohta-San, ukulele;
Roy Sakuma Productions, Inc.
Where is my Love Tonight
CD.
Larghetto (reissue); the Eastman-Rochester
Symphony, Howard Hanson, conductor; Polygram Records,
Inc.
Music for Quiet Listening CD.
Further Information
