Two Concerts and Lectures Focus on New Music at Casper College

The Casper College Music Department will present two free concerts and a free half-day lecture series October 20 and 21.

On Friday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. a concert titled: “The Music of Lou Harrison” will celebrate the centenary of composer Lou Harrison and feature Casper College music faculty and students.

On Saturday, Oct. 21, the department will present Casper College New Music Day along with the Wyoming Experimental Sound Series.

The day will begin at 1:30 with a reception followed at 2 p.m. with Stephen Bailey, Colorado-based composer, instrument maker, and sound engineer, who will speak on “Compression in Classical Music: You’re Doing It Wrong.”

At 3 p.m. a music lecture on “Commissioning and Curating New Works” will be presented by Katie Porter, a clarinetist and curator who specializes in experimental chamber and solo music.

The final music lecture will begin at 4 p.m. with composer Devin Maxwell who will speak on “Gradualism – Structure to Surface in Recent Compositions.” Both Porter and Maxwell form the group Red Desert Ensemble.

New Music Day will wrap up with a concert at 7 p.m. The concert will feature a variety of late 20th century compositions performed by Ron Coulter, percussion instructor, Dr. Joshua R. Mietz, woodwind instructor and the Casper College Percussion Group and guests. The second half of the concert will be headlined by the Red Desert Ensemble.

All concerts and lectures are open to the public and will take place in Wheeler Concert Hall. Wheeler Concert Hall is located in the Music Building on the Casper College campus.