June in Buffalo 1986-2010 June in Buffalo's tulip emblem Designed by Bud Jacobs th An exhibition honoring the festival’s 25 anniversary with David Felder as Artistic Director Music Library Exhibit Curated by John Bewley May 2010 2010 marks the twenty-fifth consecutive year that June in Buffalo has been presented under the direction of David Felder. During that time 237 concerts have been presented with more than 1200 compositions performed, including dozens of world premieres by composers such as Mario Davidovsky, David Felder, Cort Lippe, Bernard Rands, Roger Reynolds, Jeffrey Stadelman, Augusta Read Thomas, and Charles Wuorinen. More than 350 student composers have journeyed to Buffalo from around the world to have their music performed by performers of the highest caliber and to study with leading contemporary composers. As Nils Vigeland noted in his liner notes to the Electronic Music Foundation CD 033 (in 2001, referring to 25 years at that time from the beginning of the festival under its originator Morton Feldman in 1975): In present-day America, twenty-five years is a long time to sustain an artistic organization. This recording reminds one of what extraordinary things can happen when gifted people decide to do something in the time and place where they live. And, they can happen in June, in Buffalo. David Felder at June in Buffalo 2003 Photograph by Irene Haupt (jib2003-011) David Felder was appointed to the University at Buffalo music faculty Fall semester 1985. His most recent accomplishments include receiving the Academy Award in Music from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2010 and being named a State University of New York Distinguished Professor in 2009. In addition to founding and directing the current incarnation of June in Buffalo, he also founded the Slee Sinfonietta in 1996 and serves as artistic director of the Robert G. and Carol L. st David Felder, 2000 Morris Center for 21 Century Music, established in 2007. He has been the Birge- Photograph by Cary Chair in Composition in the Music Department since 1992. Irene Haupt David Felder and Yvar Mikhashoff at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, 1986 Photograph by Tom Loonan (YM04-058) Nils Vigeland, Lukas Foss, and David Felder, 1986 Photograph by Irene Haupt (H01-080) Felder came to Buffalo with excellent credentials for his new position. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, 27 November 1953, Felder received his music training at Miami University (B.M., 1975), Cleveland Institute of Music (M.M., 1977), and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (Ph.D., 1983). His composition teachers during his student years included Roger Reynolds, Donald Erb, Bernard Rands, and Roger Erickson. Nils Vigeland, Harvey Sollberger, David Felder, and Stephen Manes, 1986 Photograph by Irene Haupt Craig Bove, David Felder, and Bernard Rands, 1986 Photograph by Irene Haupt Prior to his arrival in Buffalo, Felder’s academic career consisted of teaching positions at Cleveland Institute of Music, UCSD, and California State University, Long Beach. Felder served as co-director of Long Beach’s New Music Ensemble and in the summer of 1984 he created a Composer’s Seminar for students that can be viewed as a predecessor to the current June in Buffalo. Working with invited faculty members Donald Erb and Bernard Rands, Felder repeated the seminar in 1985. 4 Pan VI/Friday, Jul) ' 27, 1984 CSLBSEMINAR NURTURING FLEDGLING COMPOSERS By DANIELCARIAGA, 7'lmn St4ft Wnur , I 'm taking it a little faster," said the compoeer/conduc­ tor. "You're taking it a lol faster," l'elpODdedthe pianist. The fl'eewbeeilng give-and-take I.ORISIIIPLIIR of relleanlng flrat perfonnances is nowhere better demonstrated than David Felder, Donald Ero and Bemanl Rands,/f'<nn le/t, leaders in the academic world. where, of the ftTst-time Composer'sSeminar at Cal StateLong Beach. ideally, a semblanceof muaical democracy mdlta. first, Just how valuable these would have private consultauon, Such dt.mocracy was on view in whirlwind five days might be to the with each of the three older Onell. a rehea1'911at CalState Long Beach 12 aspiring composers-from both Felder, co-director of the CSLB lhJa week, where, in a group of coasts aa well u the Midwest­ New MusicEnsemble and a mem­ young pro fessional players, we gathered here. And what these ber of the mualc faculty since 1982, witneaedthe~ofmordancyand three experiencedcompoeera can wanu to make the seminar an llghllleiis-as well aa, predictably, give their younger colleagues In so annual affair, although he admits the vlrtuolllt.y-that characterize ShQrta lillle? that funding such projecta Is more the aerlous preparatiOn of pre­ "We can encourage confidence," difficult now than in the l!l'IOs.The mlerea. Rands answered without hesita• costof this 1984seminar, he says, ls What waa going on al the tiOn. "In the neighborhood of '5,000." sprawling complex of low-lying "For those not aure they are in Rands says he encourages all buildings called the University the nght bualneM, or wondering if YOUXII<C•UjwweJ'8, but also warns MusicCenter at CSLB-and due to they should go on, we help them reachIts climax and conclusion at a them that '1t'a a very rougll pro­ focus.We encourage them to be fesslon. Not all of gotng to performance tonight of works by activists for new music, not just to themare nine living writers-was a fledg­ bear their works performed. They Bit around walling for opportuni­ have to be told they cannot count ling Compose r's Seminar, the ties. bralnchlld of CSLB compo8er Da­ ''We advise all of them to con­ onthaL vid Felder. duct-not to be ambitious about a "But, on the other band, lo The five-day workshop was be­ careerin conducting, but to acquire anyone who feels the need to ing taught and auperviJed by Feld­ the basics,Lhc fundamcnl.ai ekllls. compose, I encourage them not to er, ~. a repreaentaUve of his in order to lead lheir own works. stifle the creaUve urge. generation of Amfrlcan composers, And, in the process, to command "The first lhiDg la, we write to and two of his former mentors, the reepect of players.'' know who we are. We all do thaL I Donald Erb, 57, who now teaches at Seminar director Felder con­ couldn't make sense of my life Indiana Universi ty, and Bernard flrmetl.that each parliclpant In the except thiough writing music-it Randa. 49, the PulllZer Prize-wln­ seminarwould have the opportuni• helpa me makeaenaeollheworld. nlng professor from UC San Diego. ty during the week to give hla "Beyond that. 1 believe-have Meeting Rands between hla ap­ colleagues a 45-mlnute presenta­ always believed-that In lhla pro­ pointments with Individual student tion of his/her music. 1n addit.ion, feaslon.u In others, the cream s rwn red the rises lo the " June in Buffalo, 1986 David Felder only had about nine months after his arrival in Buffalo to create the new June in Buffalo. No funding was in place, so in addition to arranging for the first year's composers and students, he had to create a budget proposal. As can be seen on the proposal, the initial proposal request for $20,600 for operating expenses was cut to $15,300. PROPOSED BUDGl'T FOR A TWO WEF.:KCOMPO SERS ' SEMINAR (JUNE IN 8UFPIILO 7?) 1986 EXPENSCS Sala r ies : Artistic Director (Felder) $1 , 000 . 00 Faculty Composers (Erb , Rands , Druckman, Feldma n, Hiller, f'e~er; 1 week each @ 1, 000) 1 ,000 . 00 Perfo rmance faculty (Will iams , Mikha shoff , ot he rs; appr . 17 musi cians paid by s ervice) 7,00 0. 00 Executive Dir ec tor /Administrat or / Ass ' t to Artis t ic Dir. 1,000 . 00 St ude nt Assist ant 1,000 . 00 Recordi ng eng i ne e r (3 con c er ts) ~ l'tI IU-0 Mater ia ls/Misc. I, i "rJ Recording tape and supp li es - Seminar advertisements (brochures ; design , printing , mail) •_ _~60Q.,J! 0:--.-- - -- - - Concert publi city -,vtr.'0 0 , Conce rt reception s Mus ic rent al ~- 600.00 - .. / ), 307) TO'l'AL EXPENSES .. .. - . : •. .. .. •. ....• • . ••.• .. ... • . .•. • .. .. $20, 600- 00 / 2,~ ~, / '3, ff"t> Ex -~ - applicat i on fees (40@ 25. 00J- 1, 000 . 00 l , av-t> ~ ,.nro t ui l ion ~ ude nts @~) /re ~ 0-0 1, 000.0 0 BMC grant 500 . 00 ASCIIPg r ant S00. 00 Pcesser Foundation g rant 1,000 . 00 Meet the composer grant 600 . 00 NEA Services to Composers (projected approximation) 2,000 . 00 _ _, tic ket s~ l es (3 concert s ; 100/co nc ert; $5/ ti cket ) 1, 500.00 TOTA!._P ROJECTEDINCOME . ... .... .. ....• • . .... .. .. •. ••.•.. $ 14 , 100. 00 DEFICIT. .. .. .. • . .. • .... .. • .• • . .. .••.• . ••. •• .•.. .• .. .. $6 , 500.0 0 I ~, 6(Yt) -- SC°1) Fundi ng so urce s include Fromm Foundat i on, Betty Freeman , Jerome Founda tt on, + SUNV, Buf f~ lo Music Department and Summer Sessions : o nce approval tor this project is formalized , fu nd- c~ising ca n continu~ for 1985-86 . -~ ... The above represents estimated expenses and income for a two- wee k i n- - tensive cOmposcrs 1 semina r proposed fo r June , 1986, .)t SUNY, Bu ffalo . Twent y younger cornpos~rs wi ll be invited for perform~nces of their work du~ng th e sess i on in conj unc ti on wit h faculty flern"rd Rand~, OOno.1ldErb, Mof to n Feldman, Lcjac-n Hiller, Jacob Oruckm~m, and oavi d Felder, l'.Jch in residence for approximately 1 week (except for F~lder , who wil l se rve as ~rtislic Director dnd he in rcs1dencc as fdculty fo r both we~ks .) Faculty pe:-~ormc-rs from the Music oep<lttment, along with 3uest 3 r tisb; will compris e the !-·erfo cm.:ance toculty .