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April 12, 2002
Contact: Kate Weber, 309/556-3181

Work Commissioned by IWU’s Alpha Lambda Phi Mu Alpha Chapter
IWU Wind Ensemble to Premiere "Fanfare Ritmico"

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Wesleyan University Alpha Lambda chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity will soon see their commissioned project "Sinfonia 2000" come to a close. The IWU Wind Ensemble will premiere Philadelphia’s Jennifer Higdon’s "Fanfare Ritmico" on April 21 at 3 p.m. in the Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall, 303 E. University Ave., Bloomington.

Begun in the 1997-98 school year after announcing their plans to commission a work, IWU professors David Vayo, professor of composition and theory and Mario Pelusi, associate professor of composition and theory and director of the IWU School if Music, reviewed the work of three to five composers before selecting Higdon, who since then has become a well-recognized and sought-after composer.

"Higdon was my number one choice," Vayo said. "Her music speaks clearly and eloquently to the listener, is well structured, and is constantly vital. There is energy, visceral excitement and musical meaning in all of her work that we listened to."

"Our goal in initiating the ‘Sinfonia 2000’ commission was to support new music in America by introducing a piece of band literature of worth," said Barak Berman, a junior computer science major who plays in the IWU Jazz Ensemble and serves as president of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha. "The chapter feels that ‘Fanfare Ritmico’ lives up to these goals that were set four years ago. We could not be happier with ‘Fanfare Ritmico’ and look forward to the premiere."

"It is not only a wonderful addition to the band repertoire but it is a terrific piece of music," said Steven Eggleston, IWU professor of music and director of the IWU Wind Ensemble. "It is exciting to be performing the work for the first time."

"Premiering a new composition by one of the United States’ most gifted composers is a wonderful opportunity for our Wind Ensemble and for the university in general," Vayo said. "It also reflects, in the best possible ways, Phi Mu Alpha’s commitment to American music and Professor Eggleston’s ongoing support of new music."

Higdon’s visit will include a master class with students majoring in composition and rehearsal with the Wind Ensemble.

Higdon’s works have been performed extensively throughout the country including performances at The White House and Carnegie Hall and by performers like the Philadelphia Singers, the Oregon Symphony, the New England Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Symphony.
Her most recent compositions, in addition to the Alpha Lambda Phi Mu Alpha chapter’s "Fanfare Ritmico," include "Concerto for Orchestra," a 30-minute work for orchestra to be premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra and "Ceremonies," a 24-minute work in seven movements for organ and brass to be premiered by the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Current commissions include a work for The Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Professional Music Fraternity, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, among others.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Lesley Valdez wrote "there’s no denying Higdon’s compositional ease or abundance of ideas. Her music has something to say and often does so with eloquence."

USA Today (December 30, 1996) named Higdon the composer of the "Best New Piece of 1996." Higdon also has earned a long list of additional awards including an Artist’s Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (2000), a Meet the Composer Grant (1998), Musical Fund Society Grant (1998) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1997).

Often called a Renaissance woman of music, Higdon frequently concertises on the flute and remains an active conductor, in addition to composing.

Higdon received a bachelor of flute performance from Bowling Green State University and an Artist Diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She later earned a master of arts and doctoral degree in composition from the University of Pennsylvania.

Higdon now serves on The Curtis Institute of Music composition faculty. In the past she has served as conductor of the University of Pennsylvania Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and as Composer-in-Residence with the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Walden School, the Prism Saxophone Quartet and the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco.

News from Illinois Wesleyan

April 12, 2002 Contact: Kate Weber, 309/556-3181 Work Commissioned by IWU’s Alpha Lambda Phi Mu Alpha Chapter IWU Wind Ensemble to Premiere "Fanfare Ritmico" BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Wesleyan University Alpha Lambda chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity will soon see their commissioned project "Sinfonia 2000" come to a close. The IWU Wind Ensemble will premiere Philadelphia’s Jennifer Higdon’s "Fanfare Ritmico" on April 21 at 3 p.m. in the Westbrook Auditorium of Presser Hall, 303 E. University Ave., Bloomington. Begun in the 1997-98 school year after announcing their plans to commission a work, IWU professors David Vayo, professor of composition and theory and Mario Pelusi, associate professor of composition and theory and director of the IWU School if Music, reviewed the work of three to five composers before selecting Higdon, who since then has become a well-recognized and sought-after composer. "Higdon was my number one choice," Vayo said. "Her music speaks clearly and eloquently to the listener, is well structured, and is constantly vital. There is energy, visceral excitement and musical meaning in all of her work that we listened to." "Our goal in initiating the ‘Sinfonia 2000’ commission was to support new music in America by introducing a piece of band literature of worth," said Barak Berman, a junior computer science major who plays in the IWU Jazz Ensemble and serves as president of the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha. "The chapter feels that ‘Fanfare Ritmico’ lives up to these goals that were set four years ago. We could not be happier with ‘Fanfare Ritmico’ and look forward to the premiere." "It is not only a wonderful addition to the band repertoire but it is a terrific piece of music," said Steven Eggleston, IWU professor of music and director of the IWU Wind Ensemble. "It is exciting to be performing the work for the first time." "Premiering a new composition by one of the United States’ most gifted composers is a wonderful opportunity for our Wind Ensemble and for the university in general," Vayo said. "It also reflects, in the best possible ways, Phi Mu Alpha’s commitment to American music and Professor Eggleston’s ongoing support of new music." Higdon’s visit will include a master class with students majoring in composition and rehearsal with the Wind Ensemble. Higdon’s works have been performed extensively throughout the country including performances at The White House and Carnegie Hall and by performers like the Philadelphia Singers, the Oregon Symphony, the New England Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Symphony. Her most recent compositions, in addition to the Alpha Lambda Phi Mu Alpha chapter’s "Fanfare Ritmico," include "Concerto for Orchestra," a 30-minute work for orchestra to be premiered by The Philadelphia Orchestra and "Ceremonies," a 24-minute work in seven movements for organ and brass to be premiered by the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Current commissions include a work for The Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Professional Music Fraternity, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, among others. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Lesley Valdez wrote "there’s no denying Higdon’s compositional ease or abundance of ideas. Her music has something to say and often does so with eloquence." USA Today (December 30, 1996) named Higdon the composer of the "Best New Piece of 1996." Higdon also has earned a long list of additional awards including an Artist’s Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (2000), a Meet the Composer Grant (1998), Musical Fund Society Grant (1998) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1997). Often called a Renaissance woman of music, Higdon frequently concertises on the flute and remains an active conductor, in addition to composing. Higdon received a bachelor of flute performance from Bowling Green State University and an Artist Diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She later earned a master of arts and doctoral degree in composition from the University of Pennsylvania. Higdon now serves on The Curtis Institute of Music composition faculty. In the past she has served as conductor of the University of Pennsylvania Orchestra and Wind Ensemble and as Composer-in-Residence with the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Walden School, the Prism Saxophone Quartet and the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco.