The Walden School Welcomes Melinda Wagner, Composer in Residence

“Music offers composers an immeasurably rich and generous sonic landscape in which to explore the 'life story' of each musical idea — its dramas, intrigues, joys and sorrows — a life. I strive to find various and persuasive ways of moving through the resulting temporal narrative, and to traverse a wide spectrum of expression and color on the way. Ultimately, I want listeners to know me; I want them to hear that while I enjoy the cerebral exercise, I am led principally by my ear, and by my heart.”
—Melinda Wagner

During three nights of Festival Week Composers Forums (July 26-28, 2010), Walden students will present their improvisational or compositional works in a concert setting. Works are performed by students, faculty, and outstanding visiting artists. During her residency, Ms. Wagner will lead a discussion of each piece with students, faculty, and the audience. Students receive constructive feedback as a springboard toward further work either on the piece at hand or future pieces. Forums are designed for the beginner as well as the advanced student, and are greatly beneficial to all involved. The emphasis on creative work at Walden is on process over product, and Composers Forums provide a unique opportunity for musical and personal growth.

Composers Forum Moderators are faculty members and/or recognized composers and performers in the music world outside of Walden School. Past visiting Composers Forum moderators have included Samuel Adler, Thomas Benjamin, Martin Bresnick, Earle Brown, Andrea Clearfield, Randolph Coleman, James Freeman, Adolphus Hailstork, Stephen Jaffe, Jean Eichelberger Ivey, Eugene O'Brien, Russell Pinkston, Pamela Layman Quist, Philip Rosenberg, Allan Schindler, Alex Shapiro, Bright Sheng, Christopher Theofanidis, John Weaver, and Chen Yi.

On Sunday, July 25, Ms. Wagner will present recordings and live performances of her compositions, as well as lead the community in an engaging discussion about her works, her life, and her training and inspiration as a musician. On July 30, the Walden School Chorus will perform one of her choral works on its annual choral concert, and prior to Festival Week, on Friday, July 23rd, the Walden School Players will perform one of her pieces of chamber music. In addition, she will be in residence at Walden during the entire week, interacting with students, faculty and staff in both formal and informal settings.

Melinda Wagner's colorful Concerto for Flute, Strings, and Percussion, commissioned by Paul Lustig Dunkel and the Westchester Philharmonic, was awarded the 1999 Pulitzer Prize in Music (the only flute concerto to date to win the coveted award). Since then, she has written Concerto for Trombone, for Joseph Alessi and the New York Philharmonic, and a piano concerto, Extremity of Sky, commissioned by the Chicago Symphony for Emanuel Ax, who has also performed it with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, and the Staatskapelle Berlin. In addition to Extremity of Sky (2002), the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has commissioned two other major works: Falling Angels (1992), and a forthcoming work for the 2011-12 season. Commissions have also come from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Barlow Foundation, the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, the Fromm and Koussevitzky Foundations, the Ernst and Young Emerging Composers Fund, the American Brass Quintet, and guitarist David Starobin.

Melinda Wagner has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University, and Hunter College. She has lectured at many schools including Yale, Cornell, Juilliard, and Mannes. Ms. Wagner has served as Composer-in-Residence at the Yellow Barn Music Festival, the Monadnock Music Festival, the University of Texas (Austin) and at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, percussionist James Saporito, and their children.

For more information about Melinda Wagner, please visit www.presser.com/composers/info.cfm?Name=MELINDAWAGNER

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Melinda Wagner