Dr. Chen Yi (b. 1953, China) Trained as a violinist in the European classical tradition, Chen Yi initial/y came into contact with Chinesefolk mwic in a farced relocation to the co11ntrysided11ringthe Cultural Revol11tion.Already widely celebratedin China ns a major new composer during the increasinglyopen cultural climate of the 1980s, Chen Yi came to the United States in 1986 to continue her musical studies. She writes both intimate nnd lnrgescale worksfar European and Chinese instruments, and fuses Wésternorchestraland choral idioms with traditionnl Ensternpentatonic tonalities. A recent m11ltimediawork, ChineseMyths Cantata, yokes a symphony orchestra,nn ensembleof tradition al Chinese instmmentnlists 1111d II choir of male singers,a Chinesedance troupe with visunl imnge projectionson stage. Chen Yi is the Crrwens/Mills11p!Misso11ri Distinguished Pro/essor nt the Conservatoryof the University Misso11ri-K11ns11s City, and the recipient of the prestigious Charlesflles Living Aw111d(01-04) from the Americnn Acndemy of Arls 1111d Letters, Dr. Chen Yi hns received bnchelor1111d mnster degreesin music composition from the Centml Conservatoryi11Beijing, China, and Doctor ofMusical Arts degreefrom Columbin University in the City of New York. /-Ier music is p11blished by TheodorePresser Compnny, nnd is pe,farmed and recorded thro11gho11t thl' world. Emnil: Chen Yi@nol.com Dale Warlmul h11Smnde 1111 indelible impression on the l11nd scr1peof contemporarychoral music both nntionnlly nnd internationnlly. The Drill' W11rl1111d Singers, which hefa11nded,is 11 vocnl ensemblek11ownfar its exq11 isite sound, technicalfinesse, /111(,l stylistic range. Wnrlnnd 1101011/y mnstersthl' tmditionnl repertoire,hut hllSrommissio11etl over 25 0 111'111 rhoml 111orks. 'fh e rhoml world h11Srespo11ded by bes1owi11g
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its highest honors on \¼rlnncl. Warland'sappenrancesns a guest conductor have taken him to the podi11msofsome of the world'smost prestigiouschoirs, including concerts with the Swedish Radio Choù; Danish Rndio Choir, Mormon TnbernncleChoi,; Estonian Philharmonie Chnmber Choir, to nnme a Jew. /-le has also rehearsedand prepared choirsfar pe1farmancesof mnjor works in collaborationwith notable conductorsand composerslike Robert Shaw, Leonard Slatkin, Kryzstof Penderecki1111d others. Warland is committed to sharing his knowledgeabo11tthe choral nrts and h11Sserved on n11merousfaculties offestivals and competitions in the USA and 11bro11d. Email: dwarlnnd@enrthlink.net Kathy Saltzma11 Romey is an 11Ssistant pro/essor of choral m11sicnt the University of Minnesota nnd the nrtistic director of the Minnesotn Chorale. This interview is nn excerptfi-ornII longerdiscussionwhich wl/S pnrt of II researchproject entitled "From Pnge to Stage - The Dornme11tntio11 o/Ten World Premieres".The resenrchfacused on the crentive processof te11i11tern11tionallyrenowned composerswho were commissionedto write new works 11sprtrt of the 2002 Sixth World Symposiums ojferings. Chosenfor their 1111iq11e styles, theJeatured composersmme f-om Latin Americn, C111111d111111d the USA 1111d werl'in residencefar the premiere pe1farma11ces, presented by some of the world'sJin est choirs. Emrlil: romeyOOJ@rmm.ed11
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