Thursday November 29

9:00 AM Critic, consultant, and composer Greg Sandow meets with a joint session of the School of Music’s first-year seminar class (this is a pre-symposium event, but visitors are welcome) Thompson Recital Hall

7:30 PM Bang on a Can All-Stars performance in Kresge Auditorium, followed by “talk back” session with performers and audience in Thompson Recital Hall.

Friday November 30 (all events in Thompson Recital Hall)

9:00 AM Joseph Horowitz, noted author and artistic director of the Post-Classical Ensemble, speaks to a joint session of the School of Music’s first-year seminar

10:00 AM An Indie Label in the Post-Classical World - talk by Erich Stem, Director of New Dynamic Records

11:20 AM Joseph Horowitz speaks to the DePauw University Jazz Ensemble

3:00 PM Open session of the DePauw free-improvisation ensemble; student will perform a short (20 minute program), followed by discussion and interaction with symposium presenters, including suggestions for the improvising students and comments on the role of improvisation and performer creativity in post-classical music.

8:00 PM The Passing of Time–performance by the DePauw New Music Ensemble, featuring works by Olivier Messiaen, Astor Piazzola, and Arvo Pärt

Saturday December 1 (all events in Thompson Recital Hall)

9:00 AM Using Costumes, Staging and Amplification–presentation by members of eighth blackbird, the School of Music’s 2007-2008 Ensemble-in-Residence

10:30 AM The Classical Music Crisis: How It Happened and What to Do About It–keynote address by Joseph Horowitz

11:45 AM Lunch break

1:00 PM The Future of Classical Music–talk by Greg Sandow

2:30 PM How Should Music Schools Be Preparing Students for the Realities of Post-Classical Life?–a panel discussion with eighth blackbird, Joseph Horowitz, Greg Sandow, and Erich Stem, moderated by Prof. Scott Spiegelberg
3:30 PM Closing Remarks

3:45 PM Depart

–Eric Edberg

The entire list of events can be accessed here.

–Eric Edberg, symposium coordinator

All events are free.  We’d love to have you join us.  Please follow the links at left for more information.  If you have any questions, please contact me at eedberg@depauw.edu, or 765-658-4384.

–Eric Edberg, Professor of Music and Symposium Coordinator

(Thanks to my wonderful colleague Scott Spiegelberg, a much more regular blogger than I, for pointing out the article.)

By the way, if you have any problem opening the links to the symposium site/blog, please email me or post a comment–I can access it from home, but one of my colleagus can’t. Thanks!

The exciting schedule for Saturday December 1 is set.

Joseph Horowitz, former executive director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, former New York Times music critic, and author of The Post-Classical Predicament and the recently revised Classical Music in America: A History will begin the day with his multimedia keynote speech, which will be followed by a question-and-answer period.  (Joe’s explanation of the term “post-classical,” which he coined, is here.)

The morning continues with members of eighth blackbird discussing the ways in which they incorporate “post-classical” elements, such as staging, stage lighting effects, and amplification, into their critically-acclaimed, increasingly in-demand performances.

After lunch, composer, critic, and audience-development consultant Greg Sandow speaks on “The Future of Classical Music.” Greg teaches a course on music entrepreneurship (”Performing Classical Music in an Age of Pop”) at The Juilliard School and also at Eastman, and his talk is sure to be full of stimulating ideas.
Then Horowitz, Sandow, and members of eighth blackbird will sit down together for a panel discussion, with questions from the audience, on “Preparing Music Students for the Post-Classical World.”

The schedule for Friday November 30 is still being set.  The day begins at 9:00 AM with Mr. Horowitz meeting with the entire School of Music first-year class;  later in the day, at 3:00 PM, will be an open session of the School of Music’s free-improvisation ensemble (coached by Prof. Eric Edberg, the cordinator of the symposium).  Proposals for presentations or performances are welcome.