As the University of Houston gets back into the swing of things, so does the Moores School of Music, with only a few changes to its scheduled season. Hurricane Ike’s landfall and the subsequent closing of the University resulted in the cancellation of a few events, such as a choral performance scheduled for Sunday, September 14, and a faculty recital by violinist Kyung Sun Lee that was scheduled for Sept. 16. Also cancelled was "Collage 2008," an annual preview of the year’s upcoming repertoire and one of the most anticipated events of the season.
Two events that will still occur – albeit with some changes – are violist Laurence Wheeler’s faculty recital and the Joan Tower Festival.
Wheeler’s recital will feature works by Alessandro Rolla and Felix Mendelssohn, and is still scheduled for 7:30 pm Tuesday, at in the Moores Opera House. The only change to this program is the removal of the admission charge. The event is now free.
The Joan Tower Festival has been altered significantly due to Hurricane Ike. Originally a three-day festival honoring the 70th birthday of prominent classical composer Joan Tower, it has now been postponed until Fall 2009, and a short concert will be offered in its place.
Scheduled to run September 25 through 27, the festival was to feature the Moores School Symphony Orchestra, various guest artists, and AURA, the contemporary chamber music ensemble of the Moores School. According to Robert Smith, Director of the AURA Contemporary Ensemble, said the decision was made to postpone the festival until Fall 2009.
"The orchestra and AURA lost too much rehearsal time because of Ike to adequately prepare for our concerts," he said. "AURA was going to present an entire evening of Ms. Tower’s chamber music on September 26."
Works by Tower such as "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman," "Noon Dance" and "Petroushskates" were to be performed.
"Several of these works were to feature guest artists and/or faculty members, in addition to the regular ensemble," he said.
Melvin Chen, a guest pianist, was also scheduled to perform works by Tower as well as Brahms on Thursday, September 25 at the Dudley Recital Hall.
Instead of a three-day music festival, however, a shorter concert will take place on at 7:30 pm Saturday in the Moores Opera House, featuring the Moores School Symphony Orchestra. The only piece being performed at this concert will be Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Three additional works by Joan Tower were previously included, but were removed, also because of the lack of rehearsal time. The remainder of the Moores School of Music’s scheduled season remains unchanged.
