Summer 2007

SUMMER 2007 NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE OF DALLAS

2006-2007 Final Concert Features Augusta Read Thomas The 32nd Voices of Change Season concluded with a concert of diverse compositions by award-winning composer Augusta Read Thomas. Ms. Thomas is one of the most prominent women in American music. She was Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2006 and is currently Chair of the Board of the American Music Center, a five year term which ends in 2008. “Gusty,” as Ms. Thomas prefers to be called, joined Laurie Shulman at the pre-concert forum. Ms. Thomas is delightful, and her interactions with Ms. Shulman gave the audience a personal glimpse of this talented composer. The all-Augusta Read Thomas program began with Incantation for solo violin, played by Maria Schleuning, and continued with four piano etudes written in homage to composers Ms. Thomas admires. They were performed by pianists Carole Leone and Regan Smith. Ms. Leone then accompanied mezzosoprano Virginia Dupuy for settings of the haiku, Among Dawn Flowers, by poet Hatsuo Basho. Ms. Schleuning and Barbara Sudweeks played a composition of Rumi Settings for violin and viola. Ms. Thomas has written: “When I read this beautiful poem by Rumi, the last three lines: Stop the words now. Open the window in the center of your chest and let the spirits fly in and out compelled me to recreate it as a song without words, trying to capture its intensely personal, fiery, honest meaning.” Paul Garner played D(i)agon(als), a virtuoso study in register changes for clarinet, composed in 2005 for Russell Dagon. Ms. Thomas was especially pleased to have all four movements of Sun Threads performed at our concert. This was only the second concert where this had occurred. VOC String Quartet: Maria Schleuning, violin, Kaori Yoshida, violin, Barbara Sudweeks, viola and Jolyon Pegis, cello, played the four movements which had been commissioned individually by the Ying, Miami, Avalon and Alexander String Quartets.

Above: Jolyon Pegis, cello; Kaori Yoshida, violin; Augusta Read Thomas, composer; Barbara Sudweeks, viola and Maria Schleuning, violin Inset: Augusta Read Thomas embraces violinist Maria Schleuning in appreciation of her performance of Sun Threads

During intermission at the final concert, May 6, 2007: Jack Waldenmaier, President of Voices of Change, Regan Smith, pianist, Carol Leone, pianist, Cindy McTee, composer, Emanuel Borok, Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Alex Djinov, cellist and Board Member for Voices of Change

2006-2007 Season Ends on a High Note Composers: Music & Conversation, created by Artistic Director Joe Illick for his inaugural season, included four concerts which were wellreceived by audiences and critics. Attendance increased 300% during the last season!

Thomas Pasatieri, Joe Illick and Jack Waldenmaier

Voices of Change hosted ten visiting composers in seven different venues. Composers included Jamie Allen, John Corigliano, David Dzubay, Joe Illick and Lauren Flanigan in “Before Breakfast” Jenny Olivia Johnson, Thomas Pasatieri, Mary Alice Rich, Roberto Sierra, Augusta Read Thomas, George Tsontakis, and our own Joe Illick. Guest performers included vocalists Gina Browning and Lauren Flanigan, artist Toni Austin-Allen, and dancer Julie Brett Adams.

Young Composers had an opportunity to enter compositions in the Annual Russell Horn Young Composers’ Competition; the submissions Randy Askins, Lauren Flanigan and Joe Illick at a were exceptional. We were Voices of Change post-concert reception. also pleased to have the SMU Percussion Ensemble: Michael Jones, Ben Croucher, Scott Cooper, Jenny Pickering and Aaron Nix, perform at Sound Bites, a Voices of Change collaboration with times ten cellars. Sound Bites attracted a diverse audience to sample new music and sip wine. We had an opportunity to listen to Maria Schleuning and Ellen Rose discuss their parts in George Tsontakis’s Knick-Knacks and hear amazing excerpts from Steve Reich’s Music for Pieces of Wood for hand-held claves. In addition to the musical experience, some of us discovered our own favorite times ten cellars wine. Madcap Music at the Magnolia Lounge was an exciting way to celebrate the end of our season. It was an evening of laughter which featured the comical films of Victor Borge and a merry Lynn Addington (our enthusiastic supporter and Account Manager at WRR Classical Radio), Tonya Assid, Joe Illick, Gina Lee Tomboulian, pianist, Brian Warthen, bass, musical comedy show Extraordinaire Browning, and Jack Waldenmaier enjoy the MadCap Music evening Tony Hakim, guitar, Bobby Breau, drums by Lee Tomboulian. Lucy Tamez Creech, a well-known soprano, catered a delicious hors d’oeuvres and dessert buffet. Thank you all for being part of the VOC family. Your generosity and concert attendance made the year a success! Please assist us by going to voicesofchange.com and enter your email address to receive our notices.

Preview of 2007-2008 Season

EXPANDING THE BOUNDARIES Artistic Director Joe Illick has dubbed the season “Expanding the Boundaries,” so get ready for some more adventurous experiences. Voices of Change will offer five subscription concerts with an additional concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center in partnership with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. A special tribute is also being planned for one of the outstanding leaders of our musical community.

Voices of Changes has commissioned a new work for the 2007-2008 season by composer, David Dzubay, who will be present for the premier performance.

SAVE THE DATES: Season concert dates are September 16, November 11, 2007, January 13, March 2, and April 13, 2008. There will be a Sound Bites event at times ten cellars from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. the Saturday prior to each concert. Mark your calendars!

VISITING COMPOSERS: VOC is excited to welcome back composer David Dzubay who will attend the world premiere of his All Water has a Perfect Memory commissioned by VOC. The season will include music by composers, John Adams, Lera Auerbach, William Bolcom, Shih-Hui Chen, Osvaldo Golijov, Ricky Ian Gordon, and a premier by Mary Alice Rich.

William Bolcom

Ricky Ian Gordon

Mary Alice Rich

JAZZ/NEW MUSIC FUSION: The cabaret atmosphere of the Contemporary Theatre of Dallas in Lower Greenville is a perfect setting for the jazz/new music fusion concert.

AT THE MEYERSON: A special concert at the Meyerson Symphony Hall on March 30, 2008 will feature violinist/composer Mark O’Connor and his touring band with John Adams members of the VOC ensemble. O’Connor is a classical violinist who is also a master of many other styles, including jazz violin and folk “fiddling.” This is the first of what Artistic Director Illick envisions as a long-term partnership with the DSO, bringing special new music events to North Texas community. VOC invites you to join us at our concerts and events next year. Watch for our season brochure.

Joe Illick and Jack Waldenmaier film an overview of the 2006-2007 Season, Composers: Music and Conversation, for the Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs – you may view the video of Joe’s presentation on our website at voicesofchange.com

Radio and Internet: Board Members created a new media presence. Joe Illick, and Karen Moyer worked with Jack Waldenmaier of The Music Bakery, Times Ten Cellars and WRR 101.3 FM Classical Radio to create innovative radio commercials and internet videos for publicizing Voices of Change.

Board Member and composer of the VOC commercials, Jack Waldenmaier, WRR Announcer and Board Member, Karen Moyer, WRR Announcer, Jeff Street, and WRR Account Manager, Lynn Addington, collaborate for the Times Ten Cellars-sponsored radio spots. Thanks to Karen for establishing the Voices of Change connection with times ten cellars for Sound Bites and with WRR

An Addition to Our Staff: Jenny Sweetman Jenny has been hired as part-time administrative assistant. Jenny served as an assistant for VOC in 2005. At that time, she was completing her Master’s Degree in violin and viola performance. Jenny brings a wealth of musical knowledge and she will assist our General Manager, Eileen McKee, and 2007 Board Retreat: Fern Jaffee, President; Eileen McKee, work with Artistic Summer General Manager; Arend Koch, Board Member; Bill Barstow, Treasurer; Waldenmaier, Vice President; Russ Summers, Secretary and Director Joe Illick, by Jack Richard Harwood, Board Member helping to schedule music activities, being the liaison to composers and musicians, spearheading educational programs and organizing the Voices of Change archival music and materials. Past President Jack Waldenmaier, Treasurer Bill Barstow, President Fern Jaffee confer at a post-concert reception

New Offices for Voices of Change in Mid-August 2007

You may have noticed changes at Hillcrest and Northwest Highway. Buildings have been demolished in preparation for a specialty shopping center, Hillcrest Crossings. Our current office building has been sold, and VOC will move to the Royal Central Tower during August. Boxes have been packed and archived and historical documents are ready to be moved to the Southern Methodist University Library. Our new office location is Royal Central Tower, 11300 North Central Expressway, Suite 316, Dallas, TX 75243. The telephone number will remain the same: 214-378-8670. Please check our website for updated information and subscribe to our mailings: voicesofchange.com

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TEXAS

PERMIT #936

Joseph Illick Artistic Director Eileen McKee General Manager Fern W. Jaffee President Jack Waldenmaier Vice President William F. Barstow Treasurer Russell Summers Secretary

Wish List As we contemplated the move, we made a wish list and would appreciate your assistance with any of the following:  Conference table and folding chairs  Small refrigerator  CD storage racks

11300 N. Central Expwy, Suite 316 Dallas, TX 75243

214-378-8670 www.voicesofchange.com Voices of Change receives support from the City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs, TACA, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, The 500, Inc., Dallas Foundation, WRR-FM101.3 and KERA-FM.