Persis Parshall Vehar has had her contract renewed
as Composer-in Residence at Canisius College, in Buffalo,
NY, for another three years. At the college, she gave
a lecture, "From Buffalo to Bukowski," September
25; and will give a talk titled "Recording or
Live," March 12; perform a Concert of Women's
Music, March 18; present a Canisius College Composers'
Concert, March 23; and organize a Student Composers'
Concert and Workshop, March 24. She also participated
in a talk on poet Charles Bukowski at HALLWALLS Gallery
and received her 17th Annual ASCAP Award (1984-2002).
SAI has chosen her to be a composer-judge for its
100th Anniversary Convention. Her commissioned work
for SAI's Series published by C. F. Peters will be
a trio for soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, and
piano. Additional information is available on her
website at www.persisvehar.com.
Premieres
Heard first with Valerian Ruminski, bass, and William
Hicks, piano, were song cycles Bukowski: Out of
Absurdity, March 22, 2001 at the Kosciuszko Foundation,
in New York, NY; Bukowski: Blood, Guts, and Tears,
October 3, 2001 at Canisius College; and Bukowski:
Love Songs, January 22, 2002 at the Academy of
Vocal Arts, in Philadelphia, PA. Louis Vitello led
the Clarence High School Symphonic Band in the premiere
of Pan-American Overture, April 6, 2001 at
Kleinhans Music Hall, in Buffalo. David Kuehn and
Todd Hastings will introduce View from the Mountain-Top,
for trumpet and organ, at the University of Kansas,
in Pittsburg, February 10, 2002. At Canisius College,
clarinettist John Fullam, bassoonist Glenn Einschlag,
and pianist Donald Rebic will present Trio for
Tremani Winds, February 27, 2002 at Canisius College
Performances
Pieces heard at Canisius College in 2001 included
In Celebration, with the Buffalo Philharmonic
Orchestra, under Ron Spigelman, and the composer at
the piano, October 24; and View from the Catskills,
with the Canisius College Concert Band, Matthew Cocl,
conductor, December 4. On May 18, 2001, Virginia Davidson
led the New York Treble Singers in Spring Things
at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, in New York,
NY. Cristen Gregory, soprano; Bryan Echenrode, cello;
and Vehar, piano, performed Three Walking Songs,
Three from Emily, and Women, Women, July
13, 2001 at the Burchfield-Penny Art Center in Buffalo.
Fullam and Nancy Townsend played Sound-Piece,
for clarinet and piano, January 27 at SUNY at Buffalo.
Publications
A Canadian Boat Song; two-part voices and
piano; Boosey & Hawkes Doreen Rao Choral Series.
Dona Nobis Pacem; SATB choir; Colla Voce Music,
Inc. Rodney Eichenberg Choral Series. Missa Brevis
Pro Pace; SATB choir and string orchestra; Northfield
Press.
Recordings
Missa Brevis Pro Pace; Lullaby; Song of
Life (from the opera A Hill of Bones);
all by the Clarence High School Chorale, Robert Vehar,
conductor; Mark Recordings.
***Sigma Alpha Iota member
