Center for 21st Century Music to present concerts

A rare, full concert of the work of Charles Wuorinen — as well as an appearance by the legendary composer himself — and a program of work by established French and American composers are on the schedule this month for UB’s Robert and Carol Morris Center for 21^st Century Music.

The Wuorinen concert, marking the composer’s 80th birthday, will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 24 in Lippes Concert Hall in Slee Hall, North Campus. Ensemble Signal, under the director of Brad Lubman, will perform three of Wuorinen’s works for instrumental soloist and large ensemble: “Megalith,” with UB faculty member Eric Huebner as piano soloist; “Spin 5,” with Olivia De Prato as violin soloist; and “Iridule,” with Jacqueline Leclair as oboe soloist.

It is part of the concert series presented by the Slee Sinfonietta, the professional chamber orchestra in residence at the center.

The week before, the acclaimed French new music ensemble Ensemble Court-Circuit will be in residence at the center and will present a concert, as well as a workshop for UB graduate composers.

The concert, part of the center’s Guest Artist Series, will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 17 in Lippes Concert Hall. The program will include Partial [dis]res[s]toration by David Felder, SUNY Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for 21st Century Music, as well as work by Sean Shepherd, Christophe Betrand and Philippe Leroux.

UB faculty member Tom Kolor will be featured on percussion; Jean Deroyer will conduct.

Ensemble Court-Circuit’s stop at UB is part of a larger U.S. tour that includes visits to New York City, Massachusetts and Pittsburgh.

The Charles Wuorinen portrait concert pays tribute to one of the most recognized living composers worldwide. Wuorinen has received many of the highest honors available to an American composer — a Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships, and membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences — while his works have been performed by many of the most respected American orchestras. He has received commissions for new works from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and more.

Throughout his long career, Wuorinen has been a frequent visitor to UB. He has served as faculty composer at numerous June in Buffalo festivals, from the early days of the festival in the 1970s to recent years.

In turn, the festival has functioned as an important outlet for his work, including large-scale works such as the complete “Fenton Songs,” performed by Ensemble Surplus in 2006; the orchestral “Microsymphony,” performed by the Buffalo Philharmonic in 2007; and the cantata “It Happens Like This,” performed by the Slee Sinfonietta in 2013.

Building on this long-standing relationship, SUNY awarded Wuorinen an honorary doctorate during the 2013 June in Buffalo.

Tickets for the Ensemble Court-Circuit and Wuorinen concerts are available through a variety of outlets at the following pricing structure:

UB faculty, staff, alumni, seniors and non-UB students

$10 plus $2 fee online at www.ticketfly.com

$10 plus $4 fee by phone at 877-987-6487 (Ticketfly)

$14 in person at the Center for the Arts (noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday)

$17 in person at the door (one hour before concert time)

General public

$15 plus $2 fee online at www.ticketfly.com

$15 plus $4 fee by phone at 877-987-6487 (Ticketfly)

$19 in person at the Center for the Arts (noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday)

$22 in person at the door (one hour before concert time)

UB students are admitted free with ID.

For a complete listing of all concerts being presented by the Department of Music, visit the department’s website.