ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH’S ELEGY, SOLILOQUY, AND EPILOGUE FOR SOLO FLUTE AND STRING ORCHESTRA TO RECEIVE ITS WORLD PREMIERE PERFORMANCE BY SOLOIST TRUDY KANE AND THE FROST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY THOMAS SLEEPER – SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015, AT GUSMAN CONCERT HALL, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, one of America’s most honored and sought‐after composers, wrote her new piece, Elegy, Soliloquy, and Epilogue for Solo Flute and String Orchestra for flutist Trudy Kane, former longtime principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and current faculty master artist at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. The world premiere performance, with Kane as soloist and Thomas Sleeper conducting the Frost Symphony Orchestra, will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the University’s Gusman Concert Hall. In addition to the Zwilich world premiere, the program features the U.S. premiere of Rashid Kalimullin’s Symphonic Fresco; Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture; and Elgar’s “Enigma” Variations.

Elegy, Soliloquy, and Epilogue was commissioned by a consortium of colleges, universities, and schools of music that currently numbers 11 members. In addition to the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, the lead consortium member, they are: Baylor University; Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University; Boston Conservatory; Louisiana State University, College of Music and Dramatic Arts; Shepherd School of Music, Rice University; Skidmore College; University of Louisville; University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and University of North Carolina School of the Arts (see below for the list including conductors and soloists). Following the world premiere, performances by the remaining consortium members are expected during the 2015‐16 season.

This is the second piece for flute and orchestra by Zwilich; she wrote her Concerto for Flute and Orchestra for Doriot Anthony Dwyer and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1989.

Also in 2014‐15 Zwilich’s Fantasy for Solo Violin had its world premiere performances by the 16 semi‐finalists of the prestigious International Violin Competition of Indianapolis (IVCI) in September 2014 – the piece was commissioned to be the compulsory work in the ninth quadrennial competition, which was won by Jinjoo Cho. (Watch the 16 semi‐finalists of the 2014 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis perform Fantasy for Solo Violin in their semi‐final recital programs.)

And when Frank J. Oteri published his list of the top American symphonies on NewMusicBox, the online magazine of New Music USA, Zwilich’s Symphony No. 1 was his No. 1 pick. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Elegy, Soliloquy, and Epilogue World Premiere April 18, 2015 ‐ Page 2 of 3

Trudy Kane is Associate Professor of Flute at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. She joined the faculty of the Frost School in 2008 after 32 years as Principal Flutist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Since coming to Miami she has been an active recitalist and chamber musician as well as a devoted teacher. She performs regularly as a part of Festival Miami, as well as solo and chamber music concerts. Her article “VIBRATO!” is published in the newest Flute Association Pedagogy book, and she has been interviewed by and written articles for Flute Talk magazine. Her transcription of the second act of La bohème for 10 flutes is published by Little Piper. www.trudykane.net

Hailed by the Miami Herald “as a conductor of persuasive fluency and fiery conviction,” Thomas Sleeper enjoys an active dual career as composer and conductor. After early musical training with Daryl F. Rauscher of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Sleeper began his professional career as a member of Fermata, a group of composer/performers who presented annual series of interdisciplinary concerts throughout the state of Texas. At age 22, he was appointed Associate Conductor of the Dallas Civic Symphony and the SMU Chamber Orchestra and Opera Theatre where he began studies with Maestro James Rives‐Jones. A strong advocate of new music, Sleeper has conducted the premieres of numerous works by American composers, including Henry Brant, Carlos Surinach, Roberto Sierra, Robert Xavier Rodriguez, and Thomas Ludwig. www.sleepermusic.com

At a time when the musical offerings of the world are more varied than ever before, few composers have emerged with the unique personality of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. Her music is widely known because it is performed, recorded, broadcast, and – above all – listened to and liked by all sorts of audiences the world over. Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of Musicians [8th edition] states: "There are not many composers in the modern world who possess the lucky combination of writing music of substance and at the same time exercising an immediate appeal to mixed audiences. Zwilich offers this happy combination of purely technical excellence and a distinct power of communication."

A prolific composer in virtually all media, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s works have been performed by most of the leading American orchestras and by major ensembles abroad. Her works include five symphonies and a string of concertos commissioned and performed over the past two decades by the nation’s top orchestras.

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's pages on the Theodore Presser Company site with lists of works and awards, recordings, and reviews

Latest news on Ellen Taaffe Zwilich from Jennifer Wada Communications

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Elegy, Soliloquy, and Epilogue World Premiere April 18, 2015 ‐ Page 3 of 3

Saturday, April 18, 2015, at 8:00 PM Gusman Concert Hall, University of Miami

FROST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ‐ Zwilich, Kalimullin, and More Thomas Sleeper, conductor Trudy Kane, flute ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH Elegy, Soliloquy, and Epilogue for Solo Flute and String Orchestra (World Premiere) RASHID KALIMULLIN Symphonic Fresco (U.S. Premiere) TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture ELGAR “Enigma” Variations

Commissioning Consortium List for Zwilich’s Elegy, Soliloquy and Epilogue for Solo Flute and String Orchestra:

Frost School of Music, University of Miami (Lead consortium member) Thomas Sleeper, Conductor; Trudy Kane, Flute

Baylor University Stephen Heyde, Conductor; Francesca Arnone, Flute

Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University Philip Dikeman, Flute; Mark Wait, Dean

Boston Conservatory Bruce Hangen, Conductor; Marianne Gedigian, Flute

Louisiana State University, College of Music and Dramatic Arts Carlos Riazuelo, Conductor; Katherine Kemler, Flute; Todd Queen, Dean

Shepherd School of Music, Rice University Larry Rachleff, Conductor; Leone Buyse, Flute; Robert Yekovitch, Dean

Skidmore College Anthony Holland, Conductor

University of Louisville Kimcherie Lloyd, Conductor; Kathy Karr, Flute

University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance Kenneth Kiesler, Conductor; Amy Porter, Flute

University of Nevada, Las Vegas Taras Krysa, Conductor; Jennifer Grim, Flute

University of North Carolina School of the Arts Tadeu Cuelho, Flute; Wade Weast, Dean