One of the nation's most significant living composers, John Corigliano, will be recognized for his 75th birthday during an April 22 panel discussion and tribute concert featuring the Gaudete Brass Quintet and Roosevelt University's student brass ensemble.
Free and open to the public, the celebration of Corigliano and his work will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 22 in Roosevelt's seventh-floor Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.
In 1991, Corigliano, who is gay, was awarded the Grawemeyer Award for his Symphony No. 1, which was inspired by the AIDS crisis. In his notes for the first recording of the Symphony, he wrote: "During the past decade I have lost many friends and colleagues to the AIDS epidemic. My First Symphony was generated by feelings of loss, anger and frustration. ... A few years ago I was extremely moved when I first saw 'The [NAMES Project] Quilt,' an ambitious interweaving of several thousand fabric panels, each memorializing a person who had died of AIDS, and most importantly, each designed and constructed by his or her loved ones. This made me want to memorialize in music those I have lost, and reflect on those I am losing."
A prolific composer who works in all genres, Corigliano is recognized around the world for his music for soloists, orchestra, opera and chamber ensembles. Corigliano was the first composer in residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award winner. Among his many accomplishments, Corigliano composed The Ghosts of Versailles, which has been produced at the Metropolitan Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as music for motion pictures including Altered States and Revolution. He won an Academy Award for his score to The Red Violin.
Corigliano's work and influence will be discussed from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on stage at Ganz with members of the Gaudete Brass Quintet, four of Corigliano's recent student composers and Henry Fogel, dean of Roosevelt's Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA).
A 7:30 p.m. tribute concert with performances by Gaudete brass chamber members Bill Baxtresser and Ryan Berndt, trumpets; Julia Filson, horn; Paul Von Hoff, trombone; Scott Tegge, tuba; and members of the CCPA brass ensemble will follow.
The program includes performances of Corigliano's Two Works for Antiphonal Brass as well as world premieres of works composed by former Corigliano students Jonathan Newman, Conrad Winslow, Steven Bryant and Jeremy Howard Beck.
"John Corigliano is probably one of the most important composers living in America today and we are honored to have him join us for a birthday celebration recognizing all that he's accomplished as a composer and composition professor," said Fogel, who will be the evening's master of ceremonies.
Reservations are not needed, but seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call 312-341-2238.