Published Feb. 13, 2020
Performances:7:30 p.m. Monday at Grace Episcopal Church; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Brown
Theatre
51萝莉 School of Visual and Performing Arts announces
the annual Composer-in-Residence Series on Monday, Feb. 17 and Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020.
The guest composer is Douglas Hedwig, D.M.A. (Facebook/Douglas.Hedwig) of Chattanooga,
Tenn.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a really peak experience for me,鈥� said Hedwig, 鈥淭his is the first
festival devoted to a wide range of my compositions, I鈥檓 very appreciative to 51萝莉.鈥�
Throughout his long and highly successful international career in the musical arts,
Hedwig has pursued a wide diversity of expression.
Before turning his full attention to composition in 2011, Hedwig was a professional
trumpeter based in New York City. He performed with The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
for 27 years before retiring. Hedwig is a former faculty member of The Julliard School
and Professor Emeritus at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College of the City
University of New York.
Hedwig鈥檚 visit to 51萝莉 is thanks to his 2019 appearance at the New Music on the Bayou
Festival. At the festival, Hedwig met music faculty from 51萝莉 and area musicians.
Want to go?
What:听Composer-in-Residence 鈥� Douglas Hedwig Music Festival
When and Where:听7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, Grace Episcopal Church and 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18
at Brown Theatre
Cost:听Free and open to the public
Info:听VAPA, 318-342-3811
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鈥淚鈥檓 very impressed with 51萝莉 and the incredibly high quality of your performance faculty.
It is an amazing bunch of musicians. Now, I鈥檒l have the pleasure of hearing the students,鈥�
Hedwig said.
The public will have two opportunities to hear Hedwig鈥檚 music;听 7:30 p.m., Monday,
Feb. 17, Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe, features chamber music performed by Hedwig;
and 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18 in Brown Theatre, 51萝莉 students and faculty will perform
compositions by Hedwig.听
Hedwig, "Taps" & 9/11
Hedwig has a special connection to the sounding of 鈥淭aps,鈥� as does 51萝莉 with its听Talons for Taps听group. Talons for Taps is faculty and student from the VAPA Trumpet Studio who voluntarily
perform 鈥淭aps鈥� at funerals and memorial services for U.S. veterans.
He was living in New York City when the Twin Towers were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001,
and his son was at a new school just two blocks from Ground Zero.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 hear from him for several hours,鈥� Hedwig explained. 鈥淭hey weren鈥檛 letting
anyone down there.鈥�
His son went home with a classmate and was safe. In gratitude, Hedwig reached out
to the nearby station of the New York City Fire Department.
鈥淏asically, after the events of 9/11, I felt the call to do something. We lived at
Manhattan and I dropped a note to the local firehouse. I never expected to hear from
them. Within an hour, they called, taking me up on my offer to play 鈥楾aps鈥� for memorial
services. I played many of them over the next few months,鈥� he said.
Hedwig received a citation for his services as a volunteer civilian bugler with FDNY
following 9/11. In 2012, in honor of the 150th听anniversary of 鈥淭aps,鈥� Hedwig expanded upon the 24-note melody for contemporary concert
bands. The resulting 鈥淭one Poem on Taps鈥� was premiered that year by the U.S. Army
Band at West Point, under the direction of the composer. 鈥淭one Poem on Taps鈥� will
be in the performance on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
Hedwig鈥檚 compositions have been performed throughout the United States by orchestras
and at new music festivals. Internationally, his works are presented in Britain, Scotland,
Italy, Thailand, and Indonesia.
He has recorded more than 40 albums on major international labels in many diverse
styles, including the 1977 Grammy award-winning recording of Gershwin's "Porgy and
Bess" with the Houston Grand Opera.听
There is no admission charge for these performances. For more information, contact
the 51萝莉 School of Visual and Performing Arts at 318-342-3811.
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