CONTACT: Judy Moore at (847) 491-4819 or jkm229@northwestern.edu

FOR RELEASE: January 7, 2008

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School of Music Winter Academic Exchanges
Begin January 22

EVANSTON, Ill. --- This winter, the Northwestern University School of Music will team up with world-renowned composer and conductor Oliver Knussen and instrumentalists from leading orchestras and schools on the East Coast and across the Atlantic for master classes and joint performances. Two of the events will involve the Internet.

These academic exchanges, focusing on horn, saxophone and brass, will provide opportunities for both students and music enthusiasts to listen and learn from leading artists and music faculty members. Three master classes, a concert and two recitals are all free and open to the public.

The events will take place on the University’s Evanston campus in Regenstein Recital Hall, 60 Arts Circle Drive, or Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, as noted below.

The first musical exchange will feature Scottish-born composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, the 2006 winner of Northwestern’s Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Musical Composition. Knussen, who has lived most of his life near London, will present two master classes with the University’s Contemporary Music Ensemble that will focus on new music. The master classes will take place at noon, Tuesday, Jan. 22, and Thursday, Jan. 24, in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

Northwestern music faculty member Gail Williams and Juilliard alumnus and New York Philharmonic member Erik Ralske will co-present a horn master class at noon, Wednesday, Jan. 23, in Regenstein Recital Hall. Featuring music students from Northwestern and the Manhattan School of Music, the master class will be facilitated via a two-way Internet video conference.

Members of the Amsterdam Conservatory of Music’s Brass Ensemble, who will be visiting the Evanston campus, and Northwestern University brass students will perform together at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. The concert, part of an exchange program that includes lessons and master classes, will be streamed live via the Internet. (Visit <www.pickstaiger.org> or <www.music.northwestern.edu> the day of the performance for “streaming” details.)

Northwestern University saxophone students will hold a joint recital with 15 visiting students of Paris Conservatoire saxophone instructor Claude Delangle at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Regenstein Recital Hall. The Parisian students will perform a separate recital conducted by Delangle at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, also in Regenstein Hall. Both of the free recitals are part of a program that will include master classes given by Delangle and Northwestern saxophone Professor Frederick Hemke.

For further information, call Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at (847) 491-5441 or visit www.pickstager.org.

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