Music faculty present the work of John Fitz Rogers on November 11
Southern Exposure's first Composer Portrait, a tour of the music of a single composer, features the work of series founder and USC professor of composition John Fitz Rogers, performed by USC music faculty, students and special guests. This inaugural Composer Portrait also includes a world premier of USC composition professor Reginald Bain, written in honor of Rogers' long tenure with Southern Exposure.
The free concert takes place on Monday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the USC School of Music Recital Hall (813 Assembly Street, 2nd Floor- next to Koger Center for the Arts). Patrons should arrive early for this popular series as seats fill to capacity.
The program surveys Rogers' continuously evolving stylistic palette, including pieces written over a span of 25 years. It ranges from his earliest published work -- the fiendishly difficult flute solo “Bend Sinister” (1986/88), written while still an undergraduate at Oberlin, and performed by USC flute professor Jennifer Parker-Harley -- to one of his most recent pieces, the ebullient bassoon quartet “Come Closer” (2011), receiving its South Carolina premiere by the adventurous bassoon ensemble Dark in the Song.
Other works include the Russian-inspired piano duo “Ad Lucem” (2007) played by Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers, the evocative “Blue River Variations” (2003) piano solo, played by Phillip Bush, and the poignant trio “Last Words” (1990) performed by soprano Tina Stallard, oboist Rebecca Nagel, and guitarist Andy Jurik. The program culminates with Rogers' raucous saxophone piece “Prodigal Child” (2004), performed by a quartet of USC's finest music students.
Reginald Bain's “Harmony,” written in honor of Rogers' long tenure with Southern Exposure, will be a special highlight of this concert.
Featured performers:
Phillip Bush, Marina Lomazov, and Joseph Rackers, piano
Po-Fang Chang, Gabe Fadale, Sheldon Johnson, and Andrew Wassum, saxophones
Rachael Elliott, Michael Harley, Peter Kolkay, and Saxton Rose, bassoon
Andy Jurik, guitar
Rebecca Nagel, oboe
Jennifer Parker-Harley, flute
Tina Stallard, soprano
The initiative, Artist Exposure, made possible by a collaboration between Southern Exposure
and local arts organization Pocket Productions, features local visual artists and
their work throughout the series, making meaningful connections between visual arts
and music. The featured gallery artist for this concert is Katie Boatman. Boatman’s work will be displayed outside the School of Music’s Recital Hall.