February 11, 2010: News & Views

The Carpe Diem String Quartet, in residence at Ohio Wesleyan, will perform during the OWU•//•NOW concerts February 18 and 19.

Photo courtesy of OWU’s Department of Music

OWU•//•NOW Festival to Celebrate ‘The Music of Our Time’
Students, faculty, and guests to perform original compositions during four concerts

For the first time in its three-year history, OWU•//•NOW music festival planners put out a national “call for original scores.” More than 213 composers submitted more than 350 scores for consideration.

“I was astounded that we received so many compositions,” says Cameron Bennett, chair of the Department of Music and co-coordinator of the February 18-20 event. “The compositions of five OWU students will be featured during the Thursday afternoon performance, and the evening performances on Thursday through Saturday will feature 16 musicians performing 17 works, with two world premieres and nine Ohio and Regional premieres.”

All concerts are free and will be held in Jemison Auditorium in Sanborn Hall.

The student-composers have taken music composition lessons with composition professor and event co-coordinator Jason Bahr, who is in his second year of teaching at Ohio Wesleyan. The campus-wide mission of translating theory into practice will be carried out at 3:15 p.m. February 18, during the “Voices of Tomorrow” concert of works by Lauren Spavelko, a junior from Pickerington, Ohio; Lauren Chapman, a sophomore from Beachwood, Ohio; Meag Dow, a junior from Scotts, Michigan; Justin Giarrusso, a first-year student from Hillsborough, New Jersey; and Jabez Co, a junior from Manila. OWU students also will perform these compositions.

The original works of OWU composition professor Jason Bahr, D.M., will be performed during the February 20 performance: “Raising the Bahr.”

Photo courtesy of OWU’s Department of Music

“Each student composition is based on a poem chosen by that student,” Bahr says. “All of the pieces sound different. Everyone has developed their own voice. All of the composers have worked hard on their pieces, and I am pleased to see our student performers supporting these new works.”

OWU alumna Nicole Piunno ’07 is one of the other composers whose work will be featured during OWU•//•NOW. Her composition, “Le Petite Suite” will be performed on piano by Cameron Bennett. Currently working on her master’s degree in composition at Central Michigan University, Piunno returned to campus after graduation and spent last year in private composition study with Bahr.

Cameron Bennett, D.M.A., OWU Department of Music professor and chair, coordinated the annual OWU•//•NOW event with professor Jason Bahr. Bennett also will perform on piano.

Photo courtesy of OWU’s Department of Music

Click here for complete concert details, including a performance schedule.

– Linda O’Horo