Seattle Symphony Presents Music Of 11 Area Teen Composers

Each young composer will briefly discuss the inspiration behind his or her piece before its performance, providing audiences with the unique opportunity to hear the thoughts and musical ideas of the next generation of U.S. composers. Seattle Symphony Composer in Residence Dr. Samuel Jones will host the event.

This year's concert features the works of young composers Benjamin Davis, Achil Jackson, Michael Matlock, Daniel Miller, James Myles, Matthew Peterson, Ben Roth, Catalina von Wrangell, Jason Wang and Julia Winn. Miran McPoland's piece will not be performed. These students come from Bellevue, North Bend, Redmond, Lynnwood, Bainbridge Island, Olympia and Seattle. Their compositions include chamber pieces for woodwinds, strings and percussion.

The April 23 performance is the culmination of the 12-week workshop led by Samuel Jones, a prolific composer whose works range from orchestra to chamber compositions. In addition to his residency with Seattle Symphony, Jones has served as a conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic for eight years and was a professor of composition at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, which he established as founding dean in 1973.

The David Diamond Young Composers Workshop (DDYCW) gives students the opportunity to work on all aspects of composing, including writing themes, learning orchestration and preparing a final score with parts, all under the tutelage of Samuel Jones. The final chamber recital will premiere works by Young Composers Workshop graduates. All pieces will be performed by Seattle Symphony musicians. The DDYCW began in 1992 under the direction of Music Director Gerard Schwarz and former Composer in Residence Bright Sheng. Designed for pre-college musicians, the workshop was led for three years by Mr. Sheng. After his departure, the program was briefly interrupted, but was reinstated in 1997 when Jones began his residency in Seattle. After the death of David Diamond-one of America's greatest composers and the Symphony's longtime Honorary Composer in Residence-the Symphony named the Young Composers Workshop in his memory.

Current and former participants in the Young Composers Workshop have received national recognition, including the following awards: ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)/Morton Gould Young Composers Award, BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Student Composer Award, the Delius Award for high school composers, Music Teachers National Association composition award, PTA Reflections award, and From the Top Public Radio International broadcast. Alumni of the program have gone on to study music and composition at the nation's top universities, conservatories and summer music programs.

Participants are selected for the

workshop

based on scores submitted. The David Diamond Young Composers Workshop is a project of the Seattle Symphony's Education and Community Programs Department. Free general admission seating will begin 30 minutes prior to the performance. -- www.seattlesymphony.org