Februaru 21 thru 23, 2007
Principal Guest: Dr. Kevin Orr

The New Music Society Annual Winter Pops Concerts, February 21-23, will feature Youngstown area native and Dana Alumni pianist Dr. Kevin Orr, Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Dr. Orr holds B. Mus. and M. Mus. degrees from YSU and his doctorate from Cleveland Institute. He served as a Graduate Assistant in Theory/Composition during his time at YSU. In Youngstown he performed with the pop duo Dueling Pianos with Dana alumnus Todd Cutshaw, and in the pop band The Brotherhood.

Since moving to Florida he has toured extensively across the U.S. as well as China and Australia. Orr will co-direct a Chinese-American International Piano Institute at the Sichuan Conservatory, Chengdu this May. He has premiered many new compositions, and recorded pieces on several CD’s including his own recent solo CD of Brahms’ works. In the summers Orr directs the University of Florida Young Pianist Festival. Recent engagements in his active performing schedule have taken him to Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Quebec, and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Orr will be guest artist at Butler Noon Hour Concert, Wednesday, February 21; at Bliss Recital Hall (New Music Society Concert, 8 p.m. on the same day); in a solo recital at Ss. Peter and Paul Church (421 Covington) on Thursday, February 22 at 3:00 p.m.; and at the Bliss Recital Hall Convocation, Friday at 11 a.m..

Among the works Dr. Orr will perform will be the world premiere of Dana Faculty member Robert Rollin’s Ballade, a fifteen minute work Orr commissioned. He will also perform Geenyoch Ballant of Jennifer Margaret Barker, several movements of Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Piano, and Paul Richards’ Hypercube. In the latter two works he will be joined by Dana students Danielle Frabutt, flute, Jared Craig, bass, and Brian Sweigert, percussion. The Ss. Peter and Paul Church Recital on Thursday will also include more traditional works by composers Brahms, Chopin, and Mozart.

The Dana Composers Ensemble will appear Wednesday evening and Friday morning programs at Bliss Recital Hall. They will perform Robert Rollin’s Hexarchic Episodes, an improvisatory sextet for a flexible ensemble of six players. Graduate student Tim Webb will premiere undergraduate composer Ryan Coffey’s Sonata for piano. Tim Webb’s Dervishes Diversions with Danielle Frabutt, flute; Emily Barlow, clarinet; Robert Thorndike, percussion; Tim Webb, piano, will be played Wednesday evening and Friday morning.

Youngstown pianist Jerry Rezanka will present music from Miklós Rózsa’s movie score Spellbound. This arrangement was written by the composer for the pianist Leonard Pennario. Mr. Rezanka is a graduate of Dana and is an active piano accompanist both at Dana and in town.