TTU Chamber Music Institute features free concert series

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (May 27, 2003) – The best things about summer are sunshine, vacations and — a free concert series at Tennessee Tech University from Monday through Thursday, June 2-5.

The series, called "Summer Evenings of Chamber Music," is part of the ninth annual Southeast Chamber Music Institute at TTU, and each of its performances will be held at 7: 30 p.m. in the Wattenbarger Auditorium of the Bryan Fine Arts Building.

" Partly because there is so much variety, these are some of the most enjoyable chamber concerts of the year," said Arthur LaBar, co-founder and director of the Institute.

And this will be the final summer to catch the concert series for free. "Summer Evenings patrons in 2004 will be given an economical choice of ticket-buying options to be announced next spring," he said.

The weeklong summer music program offers instruction to high school musicians interested in learning to perform in smaller ensembles, and this year’s participants will come from as far away as Florida, Michigan and New Mexico.

Featured performers of the nightly concert series, however, are faculty members of TTU’s music and art department. "Some of them disperse after the Southeast Chamber Music Institute to travel across the country and abroad for later summer performances," LaBar said.

The performance schedule is as follows:

• Cumberland Quintet recital on Monday, June 2, featuring works by Danzi, Stephen Sondheim, Berger and Shostakovich, in addition to novelty pieces by TTU composers Greg Danner and Robert Jager. The quintet is Roger Martin, flute; William Woodworth, oboe; Anne Thurmond, clarinet; James Lotz, bassoon; and Greg Danner, horn.

• Faculty mixed chamber recital on Tuesday, June 3, featuring the local debut of TTU’s new saxophone professor Phillip Barham, who will perform a pair of tangos by Astor Piazzolla. In addition, Catherine Godes, piano, will perform singly and accompany others, including Wei Tsun Chang and Seanad Dunagin Chang, violin and viola; Charles Decker, trumpet; James Lotz, bassoon; Roger Martin and Sabrina Kumar, flutes; William Woodworth, oboe; and the Cream City Clarinet Quartet.

• Brass Arts Chamber Quintet on Wednesday, June 4, featuring Charles Decker and Chris McCormick, trumpets; Greg Danner, horn; Joshua Hauser, trombone; and Winston Morris, tuba.

• Faculty jazz combo night on Thursday, June 5, featuring Chris McCormick, trumpet and flugelhorn; Wayne Pegram, saxophone; Joshua Hauser, trombone; and a guest rhythm section of piano, bass and drums.
  The event will also include two daytime student finale concerts. They will be held in the Wattenbarger Auditorium at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, June 6, and they are also free.

For more information about the Southeast Chamber Music Institute, call 931/372-3167.

--Tracey LeFevre
This information posted 28 May 2003