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 WAC Newsletter, December 1998
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Feature: What Has Jazz to Do with Composition?
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Deadline Approaching for 1999 WAC Conference

Full consideration by January 4, 1999.

The 1999 WAC State Conference will be held at UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, February 20th. The conference will be hosted by Dr. Charles Young. Two workshops will be held: one on commissioning and writing works for the saxophone by David Hastings (a leading proponent of new works for the saxophone) and a workshop on Finale by Robert Zopp (one of the Finale product developers). A concert will be held that evening in Michelsen Concert Hall at 7:30 pm, with a dress rehearsal the previous evening. Select performers from the UWSP Music Department Faculty have expressed interest in reviewing works for this performance from the following media: clarinet, saxophone (alto, soprano or tenor), trumpet or flugelhorn, trombone, or percussion in solo, chamber and/or ensemble settings will be considered. Works for violin with narration (one player) will also be considered. Bringing your own performers is always encouraged (not limited to the instrumentation listed above). Bringing your own performers greatly increases your chances at being programmed. Works for electronics are unfortunately not possible unless the electronics can be provided by the composer.

To submit a work for consideration on this concert, send scores, parts, recordings (if possible), program notes, composer biographies, the length of the piece, and performer's names/instruments or voices (only if bringing your own performers) to: Dr. Charles Young, Music Department, UW-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

Materials must be received by January 4th, 1999 to receive full consideration. Materials will not be returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is enclosed in the application package. Works not including a self-addressed stamped envelope will be donated to the UW-Stevens Point Music Department library. Notification will be sent to composers no later than January 22, 1999.

WAC Fall '98 Concert

The Wisconsin Alliance of Composer's Fall '98 Concert took place at the Union Congregational Church, in Green Bay on September 26th. The concert was originally planned and organized by Al Benner before his sudden move. As a result, the hosting duties were turned over to James Chaudoir and local coordinators Elaine and Marshall Moss.

The concert featured mainly art songs along with some works for organ and piano. WAC members participating were Benner, Chaudoir, Michael Cunningham, Byron DeFries. Blanche Moerschel, Gregory Robbin, Liz Robinson, and Yehuda Yannay. Guest composers were Dinos Constantinides from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Carson Cooman from Rochester, New York, and David Jaeger from Toronto, Canada. Featured singers were Rita Baretta, Joanne Bozeman, and Maureen Tjoflat. Their piano accompanists were either Moerschel, Elaine Moss, or Sandy Stevens. Stevens also played two solo organ works, and Marianne Chaudoir played a solo organ piece and a solo piano piece.

New WAC Newsletter Editor Needed

Al Benner, the current Newsletter Editor, has moved to Natchitoches, LA. Thus, WAC is looking for a new Editor beginning with the next issue. For those who are interested in this position, please express your desire to either Christopher Frye or David Drexler. Benner has volunteered to help the new Editor get started. If you want to know more about what is involved as Editor, see the Member Directory for his email address.

WAC Exhibit at WMEA Conference a Success

by Daniel E. Maske

The WMEA conference was held in Madison October 29 and 30. The goal of the WAC exhibit were to make our presence known in the music education community of Wisconsin. The new WAC member directory, a guide to commissioning, and a WAC membership pamphlet were available to hand out to everyone. Hundreds of these materials were passed out. We also had a samples of WAC members' scores which accompanied a CD of the matching pieces. I myself spoke with many public school music teachers who did not know of the existence of WAC, and who thought the idea of creating new works for their ensembles was wonderful. I believe that many such music educators were enlightened and will be considering working with WAC composers in the future. I also spoke with composers who did not know of WAC. Thus, our membership will most likely increase. It was made clear to many music teachers as well, that membership is not only for composers. Whether or not direct connections are made in the near future, there are many more professional musicians in Wisconsin who are now aware of WAC and what we do and are capable of doing to help enrich the creative performing aspects in public school music ensembles. Special thanks to David Drexler, Chris Frye, Joel Naumann, Josh Schmidt, James Chaudoir, and Angela Schmidt who participated in this project by manning the booth, printing materials, and making the CD. Your hard work on this project is greatly appreciated.


WAC Newsletter, December 1998
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