Voice Professor Featured On New CD

Castle premiered “Statuesque” in December 2005 at KU with Heggie at piano. This is the first time the song cycle has been available on a recording. “Statuesque” was written by Heggie, an acclaimed composer and pianist who has penned such operas as “Dead Man Walking” (2000) and “The End of the Affair” (2004). “Statuesque” includes five works about sculptures of women and features an ensemble of seven instruments: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, violin, cello, bass and piano.

The CD launched Oct. 15 in New York City. A celebration of the release also will be held there featuring performances by Heggie, Castle and other artists from the release, including Vince Gnojek, KU professor of saxophone, who appears on the “Statuesque” recording.

All proceeds from the CD will go to Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS, a nonprofit organization that engages the performing arts community to raise funds for AIDS-related services across the United States and is a fundraising program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. -- www2.ku.edu