Contemporary music featured March 11

New Music Delaware: Festival of Contemporary Music will present guest composer and bass clarinetist Michael Lowenstern, in a free, public concert at 8 p.m., Monday, March 11, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building. Lowenstern also will present a free workshop during his visit. For details about the time and place, call 831-8245.

Considered the pre-eminent bass clarinetist of his generation, Lowenstern has performed to critical and popular acclaim throughout the Americas and Europe. He has performed, recorded and toured the U.S. and abroad with a variety of ensembles, including The Klezmatics, Steve Reich Ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, with whom he toured throughout the summer and fall of 2001. He also is on the faculty of the Juilliard School.

In the 20th anniversary issue of Keyboard magazine, Titus Levi wrote, "Lowenstern's fierce bass clarinet playing always injects a sense of urgency into the mix."

Also active as a composer, Lowenstern has written music for concert, recordings, dance, film, CD-ROM and his own performing ensembles. He is currently working as the head composer for Grey Advertising's e-Marketing division, writing Internet or "e-jingles" for such clients as Oracle, Warner Brothers, Chase Manhattan Bank and British Airways.

Actively involved with new technology in sound and music, Lowenstern is one of this country's leading producers of creative electro-acoustic music, both for his own works and in collaboration with other composers. To date, he has been recorded on over 30 CDs.

He has two solo recordings, the critically acclaimed Spasm (1996) on New World Records and his newest 1985 (2000) on Capstone Records.

In 1989, Lowenstern was the recipient of a Fulbright grant to study in Amsterdam, and in 1991 was the top prizewinner at the International Gaudeamus Competition in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

New Music Delaware: Festival of Contemporary Music builds on the Department of Music's long and distinguished history of recognizing the work and contribution of living composers. The department's tradition of hosting these festivals dates back to the 1940s, and featured composers who have visited campus include Vincent Persichetti, Lou Harrison, Aaron Copland (who visited twice), Joan Tower, Robert Ward, John Corigliano and many others.

Partial funding for this event is provided by the Faculty Senate Committee on Cultural Activities and Public Events.

For more information, call 831-2577.