Texas Composers Concert at UT Dallas April 4

The Texas Composers Concert, featuring the works of Dan Welcher, a professor of composition and the Lee Hage Jamail Regents Professor in Fine Arts at The University of Texas, will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4, in the University Theatre at The University of Texas at Dallas.

UT Dallas faculty members Kathryn Evans, Mary Medrick and Hoyt Neal and staff accompanist Michael McVay will perform, along with guest artists Helen Blackburn, Ronald Neal and Chad Smith.

An established symphonic composer, Welcher has received numerous honors, produced an award-winning radio series entitled “Knowing the Score,” and was Composer-in-Residence with the Honolulu Symphony (1990) and assistant conductor of the Austin Symphony (1980-1990).  Charles Ward of the Houston Chronicle remarked, “Stylistically, Welcher’s music has great character.  It is assertively contemporary in its dissonance, but it has a good foundation of tonality.”

The concert will include the world premiere of Welcher’s How to Make Coq Au Vin, three songs based on the writings of James Hoggard, a former poet laureate of Texas.  The program also includes Go Slow My Soul, All the Words to All the Songs, Dante Dances, The Bequest, Phaedrus, Another Rag for Rags and I Dream a World, which features The UT Dallas Chamber Singers and orchestral student David Chao.  Both Welcher and Hoggard are expected to attend the concert.

Tickets for the event are $15 for general admission and free at the door to UT Dallas students with valid identification.  Ticket office hours for advance purchase are from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  To purchase tickets using Visa, MasterCard or Discover, please call 972-883-2552.

More information about the concert may be found at http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0607/txcomposers.htm.

For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UT Dallas, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787), e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu, or visit the School of Arts and Humanities’ Web site at http://ah.utdallas.edu/.  Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator: 1-800-RELAYVV.

About UT Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor®, enrolls more than 14,500 students.  The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores.  The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.  For additional information about UT Dallas, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu.

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