Document Type

Press Release

Publication Date

4-8-2011

Abstract

Award-winning composer and pianist Laurie Altman, whose extensive repertoire covers both classical and jazz, opens a week-long, visiting composer-in-residence at Lawrence University with a guest recital Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. in Harper Hall of the Music-Drama Center. Altman will perform some of his solo piano compositions as well as jazz standards with Lawrence faculty musicians Dane Richeson, percussion, and Mark Urness, bass.

Highlighting his residency will be the world premiere of his composition “The River Merchant’s Wife: A Letter” Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel during the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra and Lawrence choirs concert.

The work, based on a poem by Ezra Pound of the same name, will be performed by the orchestra and Cantala, Lawrence’s women’s choir, and will feature guest artist Professor of Music Patrice Michaels, soprano.

Associate Professor of Music Joanne Metcalf will moderate a preconcert discussion of the work with Altman and Michaels beginning at 7:15 p.m. in the Chapel.

Other scheduled activities during Altman’s residency include:

• Monday, April 11 — Jazz Jam Session with Altman, students and faculty performing jazz standards and arrangements by Altman and others. Warch Campus Center cafe, 9:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, April 12 — Composition Studio Master Class, Lucinda’s, Colman Hall, 11:10 a.m.

• Thursday, April 14 — Jazz Composing and Arranging Workshop, Shattuck Hall 146, 12:30 p.m.

• Thursday, April 14—Chamber Music of Laurie Altman: A brief concert of works for small ensembles featuring Lawrence students and faculty. Harper Hall, 9:30 p.m.

Altman performed extensively throughout the 1970s and ’80s at many of New York City’s most famous jazz clubs, including The Blue Note, Soundscape and Seventh Avenue South. He has written more than 100 jazz pieces as well as chamber, vocal, piano, opera, choral works and film scores.

A native New Yorker now living in Switzerland, Altman has been recognized with two National Endowment Fellowships, a Lincoln Center Felt Forum Award and the Mason Gross Composition Prize.

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