Pitt's New Ensemble in Residence, IonSound Project, To Perform Sept. 20

PITTSBURGH-IonSound Project, the University of Pittsburgh's first music ensemble in residence, will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Sept. 20 in the auditorium of Bellefield Hall, 315 S. Bellefield Ave., Oakland.

The contemporary chamber ensemble will present a program titled "Mirrors and Minimalism," featuring Peggy Yoo, flute; Kathleen Costello, clarinet; Laura Motchalov, violin; Elisa Kohanski, cello; Rob Frankenberry, piano; and Eliseo Rael, percussion. This program will feature the work of Pittsburgh photographer Charles Biddle, programming inspired by Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra composer in residence John Adams, and works by Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Erik Satie, and Arvo Pärt.

Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for senior citizens and students; they can be purchased at the door. For more information, call 412-624-4125 or visit www.music.pitt.edu.

In the past, Pitt's music department has invited professional ensembles to perform in the Music on the Edge series, and their members have been asked to stay for short residencies to work with graduate-student composers. IonSound Project is the first ensemble with in-residency status at Pitt.

"Pitt has a thriving PhD composition program and also a growing number of undergraduates interested in writing music," explains Department of Music professor and chair Mathew Rosenblum. "Our students will be able to work with IonSound on an ongoing basis. The group will help the students develop their craft through rehearsing and performing their compositions."

Rosenblum says the ensemble is open to new music of all styles.

"Working with professional musicians and a distinguished composition faculty is the best way to learn the art of composition," adds Rosenblum. "Now Pitt students have both."

IonSound Project was founded in 2004; its members have performed collectively with the Pittsburgh Symphony and Pittsburgh Opera, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, and the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, among others.

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