Four Score Festival Highlights Zappa, Rzewski, Daugherty

The Music Institute of Chicago’s annual Four Score Festival, which highlights contemporary music, this year features the music of Frank Zappa, Frederick Rzewski and Michael Daugherty under the banner “Power to the People” March 10. The Festival begins with a special concert fundraiser March 3. In addition, the Music Institute showcases the winner of the Generation Next Young Composer’s Competition and other young composers in a free performance March 8. All performances take place at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. 

The March 3 benefit concert offers a relaxed and fun evening of music, conversation, food and wine. Performances feature Four Score Festival core ensemble members. As a highlight of the evening, Music Institute piano faculty member and Four Score Festival Director Abraham Stokman improvises on popular themes requested by the audience. All proceeds benefit the 2013 Four Score Festival.

The first half of the March 10 concert features music by Frederic Rzewski, Janice Misurell-Mitchell, and Michael Daugherty. Abraham Stokman performs Rzewski’s Mayn Yingele and Down by the Riverside; flutist Janice Misurell-Mitchell performs her composition Everything Changes, joined by percussionists John Corkill and Christopher Jones; and the Academy Chamber Orchestra of the Music Institute’s prestigious Academy for gifted pre-college musicians performs Michael Daugherty’s Strut, conducted by Academy Director Jim Setapen.

The second half of the program celebrates the 20th anniversary release of Frank Zappa’s album The Yellow Shark, which Zappa described as one of the most fulfilling projects of his career and the best representation of his orchestral works. A Four Score Festival faculty and guest artist ensemble, conducted by Jim Setapen, performs several works from this album of orchestral music.

Generation Next/Composer’s Lab Concert

On March 8, a free concert showcases the Music Institute’s Generation Next Young Composer’s Competition, which encourages and promotes the development of young composers. The concert program includes Things I’d Like to Have for string quartet by first place winner Zara Ali (age 17, Cordova, Tennessee); Negotiation of the Winds for oboe, clarinet, and bassoon by second place winner Morgan Harry Kane (age 16, New Haven, Connecticut); and Metamorphosis, a piano solo by third place winner Robert Didier (age 18, St. Charles, Illinois). Receiving Honorable Mentions in the competition are Alex Yuill (age 18, Naperville, Illinois) and Blake Pilger (age 15, Rancho Palos Verdes, California).

The program also will feature works from the Music Institute’s Composer’s Lab Program, created by Composer-in-Residence Mischa Zupko, and performances by young composers from the studios of Chicago-based guest composers Patricia Morehead and Ilya Levinson. Morehead’s student Brandon Anthony Bruscato (age 14) offers his work A nEw Fase for violin, clarinet, and cello, and Levinson’s student Josh Fletcher (age 22) has composed Deep Sea for French horn and piano.

The Music Institute again has partnered with 98.7 WFMT to record the performance for future broadcast on the popular radio program Introductions, which celebrates talented pre-college classical musicians.

Music Institute of Chicago

The Music Institute of Chicago believes that music has the power to sustain and nourish the human spirit; therefore, our mission is to provide the foundation for lifelong engagement with music. Founded in 1931, the Music Institute has grown to become one of the three largest and most respected community music schools in the nation. Offering musical excellence built on the strength of its distinguished faculty, commitment to quality, and breadth of programs and services, the Music Institute is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Each year, the Music Institute’s teachers and arts therapists reach more than 10,000 students and clients of all ages and experience levels at campuses in Evanston, Winnetka, Highland Park, Lincolnshire, Lake Forest and Downers Grove, as well as through its longstanding partnership with the Chicago Public Schools. The Music Institute offers lessons, classes, and programs in four distinct areas: the Community School, Academy, Institute for Therapy through the Arts, and Nichols Concert Hall. 

The Four Score Festival’s benefit and main concerts take place Sundays, March 3 and 10 at 3 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students for each concert, available online or 847.905.1500 ext. 108. The Generation Next Winner’s Concert Friday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall is free.

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