Creativity Abounds with HSU student composers’” Rites of Passage”

The Composers Concert is a showcase each semester for original music written by students studying composition in the HSU Music Department, as well as by faculty and alumni. But this one is a little different.

“It’s called ‘Rites of Passage’ because for five of the six students, it will be their last group recital here,” said HSU Music professor J. Brian Post. “They’re graduating this spring, and after this concert they’ll have only individual recitals. For me as their composition instructor, this event is very exciting. I’ve worked with each of these students for two years now, and it’s great to see their development and how they’ve found their voices as composers.”

Among the new works being played at Fulkerson Recital Hall on March 3 is a saxophone duet by student Jeannette Kyle. “Her plan of departure for this piece was to use both jazz and classical styles,” Post said. “At first the two styles are separate within the piece, but eventually they meld together.”

Graduating senior Josh Nelson will premiere a woodwind quintet called “The Nixie of the Mill Pond,” which will be conducted by Paul Cummings of the HSU Music Department faculty “It’s a multi-movement piece based on one of the Grimm fairy tales that Josh read to his daughter,” Post said.

Other students whose work will be performed are Youn Joo Sim, Danny Brown, Jon Walton and Mark Jensen.

The featured composer for the recital is HSU alumnus Dante De Silva, who is currently completing his doctorate in composition at UCLA. Two arias composed by Brian Post will also be performed.

That these new works are being presented together for the first and last time makes this a special experience for the audience. “Most of the pieces are chamber works, including string quartets, but there will also be some electronic music,” Post said. “There’s an eclectic blend of compositional styles and instrumentation that adds to this unique event. ”