Posted August 27, 2007 - 1:14pm
SAN FRANCISCO, August 22, 2007 -- San Francisco State University's College of Creative Arts will celebrate the 80th birthday of Professor Emeritus Wayne Peterson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer who taught at SF State for 36 years, on Thursday, Sept. 20, with a special master class, lecture and evening concert. All events are open to the public. Specific times to be announced.In the evening in Knuth Hall, new music ensemble Earplay will perform a concert featuring a selection of compositions by Peterson. The repertoire includes: "Duo" (1993, 18 minutes, violin and piano), "Colloquy" (1999, 12 minutes, flute and harp), "Antiphonies" (1999, 11 minutes, solo percussion), "Peregrinations" (1997, 10 minutes, solo clarinet), "Freedom and Love" (2004, 5 minutes, soprano and percussion), and "A Three Piece Suite" (2003, 22 minutes, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion). Admission is $20 for general admission and free for students. Tickets may be purchased by calling the SF State Box Office at 415/338-2467 or by visiting www.ticketweb.com."Wayne Peterson is one of San Francisco State University's most distinguished and renowned faculty members," said Ronald Caltabiano, acting associate dean of the College of Creative Arts and an SF State music professor. "We are excited to honor his outstanding achievements in music composition, scholarship and teaching as well as introduce current students to Professor Peterson and his work."Peterson, a San Francisco resident and native of Albert Lea, Minn., was awarded the 1992 Pulitzer Prize in Music for "The Face of the Night, The Heart of the Dark," a composition commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony. The prize crowns a distinguished career that began in 1958 with the "Free Variations," premiered and recorded by the Minnesota Orchestra under Antal Dorati. Peterson's catalog of more than 60 compositions includes works for orchestra, chorus and chamber ensemble. His recent orchestral compositions include "And The Winds Shall Blow," a fantasy for saxophone quartet, symphonic winds, brass and percussion, and "Theseus" for chamber orchestra. Recent compact discs featuring Peterson works have been released on Albany, Koch International and more. In addition to the Pulitzer, Peterson has been honored with fellowships and commissions from the Guggenheim, Koussevitzky, Fromm, Gerbode, Djerassi foundations, Meet The Composer, as well as an award of distinction from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Peterson, in collaboration with San Francisco State, established and administered the Wayne Peterson Prize in Music Composition from 1998 to 2005. Peterson earned his Ph.D. from University of Minnesota and was a Fulbright Scholar at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1953 to 1954.The SF State College of Creative Arts is home to the most prestigious and diverse artistic training among any Northern California academic institution. An internationally acclaimed faculty teaches more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world in renowned programs in Art, Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts, Cinema, Design and Industry, Music and Dance, and Theatre Arts. Each semester, the college presents more than 160 performances, exhibits, screenings, broadcasts and special events featuring students, faculty and celebrated professional artists. Visit: http://creativearts.sfsu.edu or www.myspace.com/sfstatecreativearts.Founded in 1985 by a consortium of composers and musicians, Earplay is dedicated to the performance of new chamber music offering audiences a unique opportunity to hear eloquent, vivid performances of some of today's finest chamber music. Earplay concerts feature the Earplayers, a group of seven artists who, as a group, have developed a lyrical and ferocious style. Earplay has performed more than 400 works, including 104 world premieres and 45 new works commissioned by the ensemble. For details, visit: www.earplay.org.Location and ParkingKnuth Hall is located in the Creative Arts building on the San Francisco State University campus, 1600 Holloway Avenue (at 19th Avenue), San Francisco. Public parking is available in Lot 20 on the SF State campus, accessed from Lake Merced Boulevard between Winston Drive and Font Boulevard. Parking is $1 per hour with a $5 daily maximum. For details, visit www.sfsu.edu/~parking.Calendar Editors, Please Note:Wayne Peterson at 80Master class and presentation, Time and location TBA, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, freeConcert by new music ensemble Earplay, Time TBA, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007, $20 general/free for studentsKnuth Hall, Creative Arts building, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave. (at 19th Avenue), San FranciscoConcert Program: "Duo" (1993, 18 minutes, violin and piano), "Colloquy" (1999, 12 minutes, flute and harp), "Antiphonies" (1999, 11 minutes, solo percussion), "Peregrinations" (1997, 10 minutes, solo clarinet), "Freedom and Love" (2004, 5 minutes, soprano and percussion), and "A Three Piece Suite" (2003, 22 minutes, instrumental sextet)Information: http://creativearts.sfsu.edu, 415/338-1431Tickets: 415/338-2467; www.ticketweb.comIMAGES/INTERVIEWS: For a photo of Wayne Peterson or to schedule an interview with him, contact Matt Itelson at 415/338-1442 or matti@sfsu.edu.-###-
