Westminster College Music Department to Present New Music Concert

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College Department of Music Composition Program will present "Voices from Within IV: Celebration of New Music" Sunday, April 21, at 3 p.m. in Orr Auditorium.  The concert is free to the public.

Westminster students participating in this year's concert include:

• Lauren Clauser, a senior music education major, is a daughter of Robert and Dana Clauser of Schuykill Haven and a graduate of Blue Mountain High School.
• Tricia Glorioso, a senior music education and Spanish major, is a daughter of Robert and Constance Glorioso of Clinton and a graduate of West Allegheny High School.
• Devin Greig, a junior music performance major, is a son of R. Tad and Tina Greig of Mercer and a graduate of Mercer Area High School.
• Laura Harris, a junior music education major, is a daughter of Timothy and Melody Harris of Hermitage and a graduate of Hickory High School.
• Cody Ortz, a junior music education major, is a son of William and Connie Ortz of Petersburg, Ohio, and a graduate of Springfield Local High School.
• Anthony Pezzelle, a senior music education major, is a son of Natalie Pezzelle of Monessen and a graduate of Belle Vernon Area High School.
• Aaron Sutton, a junior music and business administration major, is a son of Jeff and Arlene Sutton of Warren, Ohio and a graduate of Howland High School. 

These students have studied composition with Westminster professors Dr. Daniel Perttu, assistant professor of music theory and composition, and Dr. Jason Howard, visiting assistant professor of music. They will also have pieces performed in this concert.

The concert is comprised of eleven works for groups ranging in size from single solo artists to a chamber orchestra. In addition to featured premiere performances of compositions by students and faculty, the concert will feature guest artist and saxophonist Mathew C. Ferraro.

Ferraro has been playing saxophone and teaching music in the Youngstown/Cleveland and Pittsburgh areas for over 25 years. His extensive playing career includes various Broadway shows at Cleveland's Playhouse Square, including Annie, A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls and the Radio City Rockettes. He has also backed many national artists such as The Four Tops, The Temptations, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Manhattan Transfer, Barry Manilow and was featured soloist with Smokey Robinson in 1994. He has performed with various big bands throughout the area including the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, Randy Purcell's Big Fat Band and the Balcony Big Band in Pittsburgh.

This annual concert series was started in 2010 by Perttu as a way to both promote the creation of new music and showcase the talent of Westminster's student-composers. This concert series has featured numerous guest artists and composers, such as Robert Rollin, David Cutler, and Kirk O'Riordan.

Contact Perttu at (724) 946-7024 or email for additional information. 

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