‘Time & Place’ Series Features World-Premiere Compositions

Students and faculty in the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music in the College of Visual and Performing Arts are engaged with the community in developing an innovative performance series called “Time & Place,” supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

The series features secular and sacred works by campus and community choral and instrumental ensembles presented along the Connective Corridor. Four concerts are scheduled this fall as part of the five-part series that launched in March with “Mass of Reconciliation,” a world premiere by Peppie Calvar, assistant professor of music in the Setnor School and director of the Hendricks Chapel Choir.

Syracuse University faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, alumni and national and community artists are collaborating to compose and perform works that reflect the rich heritage of choral music in Syracuse as well as narratives culled from personal and community histories. These narratives are being embedded in five original compositions presented for the first time in public performances in beautiful iconic settings that reflect the “landscape of place” along the Connective Corridor—a new green streetscape and cultural district that marked a major construction milestone last week.

The intent of the series is to create relationships between artists and University and community groups through a collaborative initiative that uses an innovative engagement model to develop new content and reach new audiences.

“Syracuse University and the Syracuse community share rich traditions and history of choral singing as well as a vibrant thriving culture of choral music,” says John Warren, associate professor of music and director of choral activities in the Setnor School. “The ‘Time & Place’ grant and concert series has enabled us to celebrate this history and culture through unique compositions by local and internationally known composers. It is thrilling to consider how many performers and listeners throughout our community will be reached by the music and lyrics of these inspired works.”

The first fall series concert took place Friday, Oct. 16, at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 259 E. Onondaga St. It featured “Credo,” a world premiere composed by Joseph Downing, associate professor of composition in the Setnor School, and was accompanied by Symphoria with several community choirs.

The other fall series concerts are:

Sunday, Oct. 25, 4 p.m.
University United Methodist Church, 1085 E. Genesee St., Syracuse

• “Syracuse, In the Presence of the Past,” a world premiere by nationally renowned composer, arranger, choral conductor, teacher, song leader and author Nick Page
• Featuring an original composition based on narratives of area school children performed by the internationally acclaimed Syracuse Children’s Chorus
• Young singers from 25 school districts and home schools across the region sing in the four choirs that make up the Syracuse Children’s Chorus under the direction of artistic director Stephanie Mowery.
• Adults $22 (priority seating) and $18 (general seating); senior $20 (priority seating) and $15 (general seating); child $10

Syracuse University Women’s Choir

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 8 p.m.
Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium, Crouse College, Syracuse University

• “Syracuse University and National Defense: Forgotten and Untold Stories,” featuring “While We Are On Earth,” a world premiere by Grammy Award-winning composer Libby Larsen
• Additional premieres by Chad Steffey, Sean O’Loughlin and Jim Papoulis
• Conducted by Barbara M. Tagg
• Featuring the Syracuse University Women’s Choir and guest instrumentalists Gabriel DiMartino, Deette Bunn and Gregory Wood
• Engaging Syracuse University faculty, alumni and students with internationally recognized artists, this historical retrospective concert will include narration, projected photographs and music reflecting the rich history of forgotten and untold stories. Larsen’s premiere work is based on texts by Eleanor Roosevelt, Kahlil Gibran and Mother Teresa.
• Open to the public free of charge

Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Hendricks Chapel, Syracuse University

• “Holidays at Hendricks” featuring “The Longest Night,” a world premier by American composer Daniel Gawthrop
• Conducted by Peppie Calvar
• Accompanied by the SU Brass Ensemble and University Organist Annie Laver
• Featuring the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble, Syracuse Children’s Chorus, Hendricks Chapel Choir, University Singers, Windjammer and SU Brass Ensemble
• Open to the public free of charge

The series was partially funded through a $62,012 grant to the College of Visual and Performing Arts from NYSCA. The grant was developed by the Connective Corridor, reflecting NYSCA’s commitment to creative placemaking and the Connective Corridor’s mission of connecting university and community through creative collaboration.

Works have been commissioned by the Setnor School of Music, which has a national reputation. The Janklow Arts Leadership Program in the College of Arts and Sciences is another collaborator with the “Time & Place” series. Graduate students in the program are devising social media strategies to promote the concerts and surveying participants to produce an outcome report for NYSCA that will assess audience response. Janklow students are determining metrics by which outcomes will be are measured, method of data collection and the means of communicating outcomes to stakeholders.

NYSCA has been a partner and funder in previous Connective Corridor cultural district programming and has expressed interest in this project serving as a model for other communities.

For more information about the concerts, visit http://vpa.syr.edu/calendar/.