North Star Music Festival to Premiere New Wind Symphony Piece

 
The annual North Star Music Festival is scheduled for Oct. 18-19.
 
Sponsored by the Music Department and Truman’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, this contemporary music festival is highlighted by a newly composed piece for a Truman ensemble.
 
“Every year we commission a new work from a nationally renowned composer,” said Victor Marquez-Barrios, Music Department chair and associate professor of music, theory and composition. “We bring that composer to campus to rehearse with our students and faculty, and to work on the performance of that new piece.”
 
This year, composer Grace Baugher has written a piece for Wind Symphony I. A horn player and music educator from Kansas City, Baugher’s music is known for its memorable melodies and highlights emotional aspects of the human experience. Her works have an international presence and have been performed at many colleges and conferences across the country.
 
The North Star Music Festival will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall with an opening concert by the Bardin-Niskala Duo, who perform cello and piano works by under-represented and historically marginalized composers. This performance will feature works commissioned as part of the duo’s project of Celebrating Identity Through Music.
 
A recital of modern music by Truman students will take place at 2 p.m. Oct. 19 in Ophelia Parrish 2350.
 
At 3 p.m. Oct. 19 in Opehelia Parrish 2340, Bardin-Niskala will participate in “How Music Can Encourage Empathy and Understanding: the Bardin-Niskala Duo’s Commissioning Project,” a discussion reading the duo’s commissioning project.
 
Truman faculty members will participate in a recital at 4 p.m. Oct. 19 in Ophelia Parrish 2350. Those schedule to perform include: Julianna Moore, flute; Elaine AuBuchon, oboe; Ruoyang Xiang, piano; Jesse Krebs, clarinet; Terri Wehmeyer, euphonium; Jill Phillips, voice; Patricia Mickey, French horn; and Kihwa Kim, piano.
 
The North Star Music Festival will conclude with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall. Baugher’s piece, “Viridis” for Wind Symphony I, premiere concert will also include performances by Cantoria, Voci, the Truman Horn Choir, Percussion Ensemble, the SAI Chorale, and Uncommon Practice.
 
Admission for the North Star Music Festival is free, and the event is open to the public. A livestream will be available at youtube.com/@trumanmusicconcerts/streams. For more information, visit nsmf.truman.edu.