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Festival of new music returns to campus Impact
Fairmont State News

Festival of new music returns to campus

Sep 07, 2018

Fairmont State University is proud to host the 5th annual West Fork New Music Festival on the university campus Thursday, September 27th through Saturday, September 29th.  Nearly a hundred local, national, and international composers and performers will perform seven concerts on the campus of Fairmont State University and two additional concerts in downtown Fairmont.

Great Noise Ensemble, an internationally recognized performing ensemble based in Washington, D.C., will be the featured performers.  “Among the most exciting and ambitious new music ensembles in Washington, D.C.” (Kyle Gullings, A Composer’s Notebook), and “perhaps the DC region’s most exciting professional group dedicated to performing new classical music” (Jason McCool, The Pinkline Project), Great Noise Ensemble is a working embodiment of its mission to fight for the performance of new works and promote emerging talent in contemporary music.  Great Noise Ensemble performs Friday and Saturday at 7:30PM.

Celebrated trombonist Keith Jackson performs an evening of new works.  Professor Jackson is active in both classical and jazz styles as a performer and clinician. As a recording artist he can be heard on the recent release, Joyful Jazz, with the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. In recent years he has given performances and clinics in Europe, South America, and Asia. Professor Jackson also serves as the dean of West Virginia University’s College of Creative Arts.  Professor Jackson performs Thursday, September 27th, at 7:30PM.

"Great Noise Ensemble and Keith Jackson are fantastic musicians playing exciting music by composers from all across the country,” said Daniel Eichenbaum, Associate Professor of Music at Fairmont State and event organizer.  "This is an exciting opportunity to hear music and performers at the forefront of contemporary music.  With the incredible variety of music and performers showcased, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”  

Two “After Hours” concerts will be held in downtown Fairmont.  On Friday, September 28th at 9:30PM, Australian composer Brigid Burke performs at Joe N’ Throw (323 ½ Adams St.) and on Saturday, September 29th at 9:30PM, the Ball State University Sound Painting Ensemble performs at The Rambling Root (101 Fairmont Ave.).

All performances, except the “After Hours” events, are at held in Fairmont State University’s Wallman Hall Theater and workshops by the guest artists are being held throughout the festival in Wallman Hall’s room 229.  Both are located at 1201 Locust Avenue, Fairmont.  All concerts and workshops are free and open to the public.  For more information, please contact event organizer Dr. Daniel Eichenbaum at (304) 367-4169.  A complete schedule of events and additional information may be found online at www.fairmontstate.edu/westfork. 

Westfork Music FestivalFine Arts EventSchool of Fine Arts