Annual American Composers Update

Nancy Galbraith teaches composition and theory at Carnegie Mellon University. Her works have received good reviews in Fanfare Magazine (Jan. 1997), American Record Guide (Mar./Apr. 1997), and Wet Paint (May 1997). In Jan. 1997, USAir used the third movement of her Piano Concerto on its classical music channel.

In 1997, If Rachael in a Yellow Rose (1997) was introduced by the Waukesha (WI) Area Symphonic Band, led by Larry Harper (Apr.), followed by the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble, under Denis Colwell, in Pittsburgh (May); and the Ithaca (NY) Coll. Concert Band, under Harper (Nov.); and will have its European premiere in The Netherlands, with Carlo Balemans conducting the Rotterdam Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Apr. 1999. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra commissioned and presented A Festive Violet Pulse as part of a collaborative work, Mozaika, Feb. 1998. In 1997, Danza de los Duendes (1992) received its premiere from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, under Kirk Muspratt (Feb.), and then was heard in October with the University of Missouri Conservatory Wind Ensemble, under Robert C. Cameron, in Kansas City; the Ithaca (NY) College Concert Band, under Mark Fonder; the University of North Texas Wind Symphony, under Eugene Corporon, in Denton; and the Ohio University Wind Ensemble, under John Climer, for the Women in Music Conference in Athens, OH.

Danza de los Duendes, heard in 1998 at the College Band Directors National Association Conference at Penn State, University Park, PA, with the Duquesne University Wind Symphony, conducted by Cameron (Feb.); at the Fifth Festival of Women Composers, in Indiana, PA, with the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jack Stamp (Mar.); and with the Atsugi Nishi (Japan) High School Symphonic Band, conducted by Tetsuya Nakayama, is on the schedule of the Yale Concert Band, led by Thomas Duffy, Feb. 1999 in New Haven, CT. In 1998, Stamp led the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble in Elfin Thunderbolt at the school (Nov.), and at Heinz Hall, in Pittsburgh (Dec.). Trio Neos toured Mexico with Aeolian Muses in 1998, at UNAM University, Mexico City (Apr.); Bellas Artes, Mexico City (June); Leon Guanajuato (Aug.), Ciudad Juarez (Oct.), and Chihuahua (Oct.); and performed the work at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY (Sept.). In spring 1998 in the Pittsburgh area, Colwell led the River City Brass Band in several performances of with brightness round about it, and Eduardo Alonso-Crespo conducted pianist Walter Morales and the Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble in Rhythms and Rituals.

A Festive Violet Pulse (1997); Elfin Thunderbolt (1998); If Rachael in a Yellow Rose (1996); A New Life (1997); bass trombone and piano; String Quartet No. 1 (1996); Piano Sonata No. 1 (1997); In Unity and Love (1997); SATB choir; all by Subito Music Corp.

String Quartet No. 1; Incantation and Allegro; Aeolian Muses; Rhythms and Rituals; all by Elan Records, Jan. 1999. Piano Concerto No. 1; Ralph Zitterbart and the Cinncinnati Chamber Orchestra, Keith Lockhart conducting; Ocean Records New Energy from the Americas.