Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Two Stephen F. Austin State University student composers are among six Texas composers whose work will be considered for inclusion in the International Society for Contemporary Composers World Music Days 2009 to be held in Sweden.

Compositions by graduate student Steven Hays of Beaumont and Lufkin senior Aden Kent Ramsey will advance to the next level of competition. From the many hundreds of entries submitted by the various delegations belonging to the ISCM, 120 will be chosen to be performed during the 10-day festival attended by composers and musicians from around the world.

"All submissions must be channeled through a member organization of the ISCM," explained Stephen Lias, SFA associate professor of composition. "The SFA School of Music recently received the distinction of being named the third representative in the United States. And with that distinction came the opportunity to send compositions from our geographical region, or the state of Texas."

The compositions were chosen through the "Texas Composers Competition" sponsored by the SFA School of Music. Ramsey was selected from the SFA student composers, and Hays won as a member of the Center for the Promotion of Contemporary Composers. Lias was selected from the SFA faculty composers. Other winners include Aaron Alon of Houston (as a member of the National Association of Composers/USA), Daniel J. Hay of Fort Worth (Texas composers category) and Richard Daskas of Cleveland (Texas student composer).

The international committee will announce the 120 winners in the spring of 2009.

For now, the Texas composers will have to wait for further word, Lias said. "Of course, we're excited that SFA had a part in sending pieces for consideration, but to have any of the six chosen for the festival would be fantastic. This is one way composers build their careers--by having their work selected for an international performance."

The establishment of SFA's School of Music as a representative member of ISCM brings notoriety to the school, the university and the state, explained Lias. "It puts us on the international map and allows us to send one delegate to each international conference, enabling us to participate in the shaping of the direction of contemporary music.

 

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College of Fine Arts
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