Composer to perform at SU, work with students

By Sarah McMillin, Staff Writer American composer Samuel Adler will be the subject of a recital and work with students on Oct. 3. Adler’s recital will take place at 7:30...

By Sarah McMillin, Staff Writer

American composer Samuel Adler will be the subject of a recital and work with students on Oct. 3.

Adler’s recital will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Stretansky Hall and will feature faculty members and students.

Susquehanna faculty involved in the performance are associate professors of music Jennifer Sacher Wiley, Naomi Niskala and Marcos Krieger, lecturer in music Jaime Namminga and adjunct faculty in music Leslie Cullen.

Student performers are seniors Luke Duceman and Jessica Portzline and junior Emma Mooradian.

The performance will also include the SU Bridge Quartet, which includes Wiley, Johanna Hartman Levi, Ofir Tomer and Andrew Rammon.

The repertoire for the recital is all pieces that have been composed by Adler.

Specific pieces that will be performed are “Sonata for Violin and Piano #2,” “Pensive Soliloquy for Saxophone and Piano,” “Composer Portraits for Piano,” Bridges to Span Adversity,” “Canto XIII for Piccolo” and “String Quartet No. 3.”

The performance will also feature a discussion moderated by professor of music Patrick Long about Adler, his life and his work.

In total, the recital will be about an hour and a half long.

Adler is coming to Susquehanna as part of the Martha Barker Blessing Musicians-in- Residence Series.

“Each semester a musician or group is asked to spend time with the department, performing or working with our students, visiting classes, etc.,” Wiley said.

“[It] broadens their horizons,” Wiley continued.

In addition to the recital, Adler will be teaching in his time at Susquehanna.

“He will be visiting classes in music history, theory, conducting and composition,” Long said. “He will also meet individually with nine student composers.”

According to Adler’s website, he has composed over 400 published works, including five operas, six symphonies, twelve concerti, nine string quartets and five oratorios, among other pieces.

He has also written three books, some of which have been used as textbooks in the music department at Susquehanna.

According to Adler’s website, he is professor emeritus at the Eastman School of Music.

Adler was previously a professor of composition at the University of North Texas, music director at Temple Emanuel in Dallas, Texas, and instructor of fine arts at the Hockaday School, also in Dallas, Texas.

Adler has also been a member of the composition faculty at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City since 1997.

He was awarded the 2009-10 William Schuman Scholars Chair and has given master classes and workshops at over 300 universities worldwide and has taught at various international music festivals. Adler has also been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

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