FSU to Host First West Fork New Music Festival
Fairmont State University will host the inaugural West Fork New Music Festival on campus on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and Sept. 13. Guest composers and performers from West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania will attend.
Featured musicians at the festival are contemporary flute specialist Rebecca Ashe and composer and electronic musician Mark Snyder. Snyder will perform his haunting compositions Friday at 7:30 p.m. accompanied by video projection and live computer-sound manipulation. Ashe will demonstrate her technical artistry at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday with exciting new works for the flute that include electronics and unusual performance techniques.
“For music-lovers, this event is a must see,” said Daniel Eichenbaum, Assistant Professor of Music and event organizer. “This is your chance to hear a huge diversity of musical styles and then meet the composers and performers afterward. It’s incredible to hear the musical talent that is in our own backyard.”
Performances will take place in Fairmont State’s Wallman Hall Auditorium, and the lectures and panel discussions will be in the Ruth Ann Musick Library Multi-media Room A. Tickets are $5 for morning/afternoon events, $10 for evening concerts or $20 for the entire festival. Admission is free for students of any school.
The festival was awarded a $500 2014 Governor’s Day to Serve Mini-grant by Volunteer West Virginia. As part of meeting the Day to Serve goals of feeding the hungry and improving communities, concertgoers also are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the events to donate to The Nest Student Food Bank on campus.
Tickets may be purchased in advance through the Fairmont State Box Office by calling (304) 367-4240 or at the event entrance. The first performance will occur at 11 a.m. Sept. 12 at Wallman Hall Auditorium. A complete schedule of events and additional information may be found online at: www.danieleichenbaum.com/west_fork
Other featured composers include Grant Cooper from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Eric Moe from the University of Pittsburgh, Mark Phillips from Ohio University, David Taddie from West Virginia University and Mark Zanter from Marshall University. One of festival organizer Eichenbaum’s compositions also will be performed at the festival.
In addition to the musical performances, the featured composers will give public lectures on their work. Rebecca Ashe will give a performance masterclass to local flute students. Flute students interested in attending the masterclass should call the School of Fine Arts main office at (304) 367-4203.
MusicSchool of Fine ArtsWest Fork New Music FestivalDaniel Eichenbaum
