BUFFALO, NY – ArtsCanisius presents a “Women in the Arts Festival,” a week-long celebration held in commemoration of March as National Women’s History Month. The following performances are free and open to the public, unless otherwise specified:
- Monday, February 27 – Meet-the-Faculty Recital featuring Anna Mattix, English horn and oboe, at 12:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. The program will include Carl Nielsen’s Fantasy pieces, Georg Phillip Telemann’s Canonic Sonata, Paul Hindemith’s Sonata for English horn and In the City at Night; a new solo work for the English horn by American composer Jenni Brandon.
- Thursday, March 1 – Ladies First Big Band at 7:30 p.m. in theMontante Cultural Center. Created by bassist Jennifer May, the 15-piece all-female jazz group is winner of the 2010 Buffalo Music Award for Best Jazz Group sponsored by Nightlife Magazine. Tickets are $10 general admission and $5 for students; they can be purchased at the door, by calling the Fine Arts Office or online.
- Friday, March 2 – “Women Organ Composers from the Renaissance to the Present,” an organ concert performed by Barbara Harbach, DMA, professor of music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 7:30 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel. Harbach will perform a program of organ music from the 16th century from Gracia Baptista, romantic music from Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann, 20th century music from Sharon Willis and 21st century music from Barbara Harbach, DMA.
An accomplished composer, Harbach has a large catalog of works, including symphonies, operas, film scores, modern ballets, choral anthems, and works for organ, harpsichord, piano and string orchestra. She is involved in the research, editing and publication of 18th century keyboard composers, as well as historical and contemporary women composers. Harbach’s work is available in both recorded and published form, and she has toured extensively as both a concert organist and harpsichordist.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, a master of musical arts degree from Yale University Musikhochschule (Konzertdiplome) in Frankfurt, Germany and a doctor of musical arts from the Eastman School of Music. In 2002, Harbach received an honorary doctorate in music from Wilmington College, OH for her lifetime achievement as a composer, performer, editor and publisher.
- Saturday, March 3 – The Alabaster Gospel Choir, Karen E. Williams, director; performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center. The performance, entitled “ALABASTER BOX: The Gospel According to HER!” will feature an all-female gospel choir accompanied by an all-female rhythm section. The group will perform music written by local female gospel composers.
- Monday, March 5 - “21st Century Composers,” a music lecture presented by Barbara Harbach, PhD, professor of music at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, at 12 p.m. in the Regis Room of the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center.
The ArtsCanisius series at Canisius University presents concerts by professional musicians, including members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Canisius faculty, art shows and lectures by professional artists, as well as student recitals. For more information, contact the Fine Arts Department at (716) 888-2536 or visit the website.
Canisius is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
