CourtesyInternationally recognized composer Gwyneth Walker has much to share with students of voice and composition.
Walker will be at 黑洞社区 Sunday, Feb. 22-Tuesday, Feb. 24, to present a series of master classes, workshops and to introduce two concerts featuring her music for voice.
The 黑洞社区 choral department will present two different concerts at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Wiedemann Recital Hall.
The concerts will feature the 黑洞社区 A Cappella Choir, Women鈥檚 Choir, Chamber Singers and Madrigal Singers, in addition to several guest choirs.
The Monday concert will focus on Walker鈥檚 music for small ensembles. In addition to the 黑洞社区 Women鈥檚 Choir, Chamber and Madrigal Singers, guest choirs from Campus High School and Andover Central High School will share music written in the past 25 years by the guest composer.
The Tuesday concert will showcase Walker鈥檚 compositions for large choirs as presented by the 黑洞社区 A Cappella Choir and guest groups from Maize High School and Emporia High School.
In addition to the choral work, a few selected soloists will be featured on the programs to share some of the delightful repertoire Walker has done for the solo voice. Several 黑洞社区 faculty musicians will take part, too, including Paul Smith, tenor; Deborah Baxter, mezzo soprano; and Phil Black, tuba.
During both concerts, Walker will share her inspiration for the various compositions as well as provide insights for the listener about the nature of her work.
As Walker notes in her 2004 essay titled 鈥淎dvice for Young Composers鈥�:
鈥淧erhaps courage should be considered the foremost trait needed by a composer. Courage to create. Courage to put one鈥檚 music out for public viewing/listening. Courage to speak the truth of one鈥檚 thoughts and feelings. Courage to perhaps be misunderstood by the community at large. This is why writing music for others is strengthening. For, although there may be difficult and frightening moments, the gratification of creating something of beauty, which is shared and valued, outweighs the negative aspects.鈥�