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New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and Friends
to Honor William Paterson University Music Professor with Concert
on March 24
—Acclaimed ensemble to pay tribute
to founder Raymond Des Roches
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The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble,
a driving force in the state of New Jersey for the performance of
new music, pays tribute to founder Raymond Des Roches, a recently
retired William Paterson University professor of music, during a
special New Music Festival concert on Monday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m.
in Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus. Admission is free.
The concert will feature works by a variety of composers whose work
the ensemble has championed since its founding in 1968 by Des Roches,
including Edgard Varese’s "Ionisation," which the
group performed during its New York debut concert that same year.
Peter Jarvis, co-director of the ensemble, will conduct.
The program includes "Percussion Quartet" by Charles Wuorinen
and "Caprice" by Arthur Kreiger. John Ferrari, a noted
percussionist and a 1987 graduate of William Paterson, will perform
a timpani solo, "Canaries," from "Eight Pieces for
Four Timpani" by Elliot Carter. Guitarist William Anderson
and Jarvis will perform a duo, ""Mundus Canis" by
George Crumb. Soprano Barbara Kololus and percussionist Tom Kolor,
both 1995 graduates of William Paterson, will perform Wayne Peterson’s
duo, "Tympan Alley."
Des Roches retired from William Paterson in June 2002 after 34 years
on the music faculty. Following graduation from the Manhattan School
of Music, where he studied with Paul Price, a pioneer in percussion
ensembles, DesRoches was invited to join the newly formed Group
for Contemporary Music and the Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. He
also performed as a percussionist with the New York Philharmonic,
the Joffrey Ballet, and the New York City Opera, among others. In
1986, he received the Laurel Leaf Award of the American Composer's
Alliance for his contributions to American music.
In 1968, Des Roches joined the William Paterson faculty and formed
the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble.
The ensemble, which consists of professionals and students from
William Paterson, has premiered several major percussion works,
including Charles Wuorinen’s "Percussion Symphony,"
a piece written specially for the ensemble and dedicated to Des
Roches. Currently co-directed by Peter Jarvis and Gary Van Dyke.
Ensemble has appeared in the United States, and Europe as guests
of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Group for Contemporary
Music, the Composers Guild of New Jersey, the San Francisco Symphony,
the Gaudeamus Foundation, Radio Denmark, and many others. The group
can be heard on Nonesuch,Composer's Recording Inc., Music and Arts,
Koch International, New World, the Composers Guild of New Jersey,
NAXOS and Capstone recording labels.
For additional information, please call the Shea Center Box Office
at 973-720-2371.
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- 3/12/03
For Further Information, contact:
- Mary
Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966
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