Missouri Classical Music News and Notes

Nearly eight weeks after a musician work stoppage shut down the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, bargainers for the musicians and symphony management have reached a tentative deal.

After this weekend, Anthony Glise says, he’ll be ready for a vacation.

When it does happen, such a break will be a much-deserved one. During the past several months, the St. Joseph-born classical guitarist/composer has been working overtime: he’s put the finishing touches on three new pieces set to be premiered at the Missouri Theater this Sunday, recruited local musician Jason Riley, the St. Joseph Chamber Choir and the Lawrence (Kan.) Chamber Orchestra to perform with him, and, in his free time, recorded a CD of one piece, “The Missouri Fables,” which will be on sale Sunday.

And let’s not forget the French choir.

“Forty-two of them showed up Saturday, and only 19 of them speak English,” Glise says.

Music Teachers National Association is happy to announce that the 2004 Distinguished Composer of the Year is Stefan Freund for his work Screams and Grooves which was commissioned by the Missouri Music Teachers Association.

The performance of his composition is scheduled for Sunday, April 3, 2005, at 2:15 p.m. in room 3AB of the Convention Center during the upcoming MTNA Conference to be held in Seattle, WA.

Honorable mentions are going to:

Frank Felice for his work Two by Four commissioned by the Indiana MTA.
Alex Shapiro for her work Bioplasm commissioned by the California Association of Professional Music Teachers.
Nickitas Demos for his work Secret Music commissioned by the Georgia MTA.