Masterworks concert Saturday
From Staff Reportsnews@newnan.com
Masterworks Chorale’s 2011-2012 concert season continues with “Come to the Music,” featuring the music of Joseph Martin, Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts.
The Centre is at 1523 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan; 770-254-2787. Tickets $15/ $5 students, available at the Centre, Scott’s Bookstore and Morgan Jewelers-Ashley Park.
In a reprise of their triumph in New York’s Lincoln Center, Masterworks is again performing the music of composer Joseph Martin. Last June, Masterworks and members of Northgate High School’s choral program, along with other choirs, sang Martin’s “Song of Wisdom from Old Turtle,” with Tim Seelig conducting.
Martin is coming to Newnan to personally conduct other selections of his works at the Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts. “It was a unique experience to work with the author of ‘The Wisdom of Old Turtle,’ Douglas Wood,” said Martin. “I don’t often get a chance to work with a person whose book has sold millions of copies and touched millions of hearts. I had actually read the book to my own children long before I was ever commissioned to compose music for the text.”
Artistic Director Kathy Bizarth and LC Lane, president of the Masterworks Board of Directors, are have been leading rehearsals in preparation for Martin’s visit. Martin will add the finishing touches at the dress rehearsal on March 30.
Martin began his career as a composer at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and served as accompanist to choral director and composer Milburn Price. He credits Price’s teaching for his inspiration to become a composer. Subsequently he earned a master’s degree at the University of Texas, where he taught for five years. Currently he is Director of Sacred Publications for Shawnee Press Inc. He continues to compose music, perform in concert, play in churches and teach at conferences of church musicians. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Sue and their two children.
Martin’s accomplishments include solo piano recitals with symphony orchestras in the USA and Mexico, popular recordings of piano solos, more than 1,200 published compositions currently in print, and multiple awards. Recently, his composition “Pieta” was awarded by the John Ness Beck Foundation, and in 2008 he was inducted as a National Patron of the Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity.
Also, Masterworks’ Spring Concert is June 1 at 8 p.m. All concerts are at the Centre. For information or to support the Chorale’s efforts and scholarship, send gifts to Masterworks Chorale, P.O. Box 2373, Newnan, GA 30263. Or check masterworkschoralecoweta.org .
