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Media Contact: Ellen Schantz - (847) 491-5726 - eschantz@northwestern.edu

October 29, 2009

Nemmers and Lane Prize Winners on Campus in November

EVANSTON -- The Bienen School of Music will host several winners of its $50,000 Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance and $100,000 Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition during the month of November.  Public events are offered in conjunction with each visit. 

Pianist Stephen Hough, 2008 recipient of the Lane Prize, will be in residence November 9-11. His activities will include two master classes for Bienen piano students and ensembles.  Composer John Adams, inaugural winner of the Nemmers Prize in Composition, will discuss the genesis of his opera Dr. Atomic.on November 12.  The 2008 winner of the Nemmers Prize, Kaija Saariaho, will be on campus November 17 to 20.  Highlighting her visit will be an all-Saariaho concert on November 19 presented by the International Contemporary Ensemble at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue in Chicago.  Tickets are required for the latter event.  For information, call the Museum at (312) 280-2660 or visit the MCA page for tickets.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, November 10
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

“Deconstructing the Piano Sound”
Stephen Hough with guests Tali Mahanor and Roy F. Kehl
Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room

Why is a Steinway different than a Bösendorfer? What does the Capo d'Astro bar do to a piano's sound? These questions and more will be answered by internationally acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough. Guests Tali Mahanor, one of the world's foremost piano tuners and voicers, and Roy F. Kehl, an expert on piano history, assist in the presentation. Together they lead a discussion of the mechanics, voicing, regulation, and history of the piano. The class will include hands-on demonstrations to give students an in-depth look at how the piano really works. 

Internet broadcast
7:00 - 9:00 p.m  .
Piano Master Class with Stephen Hough
Bienen School piano students and small ensembles
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Stage
 
 
Wednesday, November 11 
7:00 - 9:00 p.m  .
Piano Master Class with Stephen Hough
Bienen School piano students and small ensembles
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall Stage
 
 
Thursday, November 12 
10:00 - 11:50 a.m.

“The Genesis of Dr. Atomic” with John Adams
Regenstein  Hall, Room 011

Adams will discuss the creative process surrounding the composition of his operaDr. Atomic.
 
 
Wednesday, November 18 
6:00 p.m.

Open rehearsal for all-Saariaho concert with ICE
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL
 
 
Thursday, November 19 
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Open dress rehearsal with ICE and Kaija Saariaho
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL
7:30 p.m.

All-Saariaho concert with ICE
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL
Tickets: $25/student rate $10; go totinyurl.com/mca-kaija

- Terrestre (2002) for flute, harp, percussion, violin, cello 
- Six Japanese Gardens (1994) for percussion with electronics 
- Lichtbogen (1986) for flute, percussion, harp, piano and strings w/electronics
- Solar (1992) for chamber orchestra with electronics