April 1, 1997 School of Music Contact Scott Barkhurst (541) 346-1163 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 EUGENE--Original jazz numbers, new student compositions and modern piano pieces comprise this week's schedule of three Music Today Festival performances at the University of Oregon School of Music, 961 E. 18th Ave. The Music Today Festival is a four-week celebration of 20th-century music, sponsored by the music school and other local arts organizations. For more information, call the UO School of Music at (541) 346-5678. To confirm concert times and ticket information, call GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 2533, for a 24-hour taped message of the week's events. Friday, April 11--Guest Artist Recital: Mark Westcott, piano Award-winning pianist Mark Westcott will perform 19th- and 20th-century piano selections beginning at 8 p.m. in Beall Concert Hall, 961 E. 18th Ave. Tickets, available at the door, are $7 general admission and $4 for students and senior citizens. A Portland resident, Westcott will perform Kabalevsky's "Second Sonata in E-flat Major," Moszkowski's "Guitarre" and "Caprice Espagnol," three pieces by Franz Liszt and "16 German Dances" by Franz Schubert. Westcott's return to the concert stage after a five-year absence has affirmed this mature artist's stature as one of only a handful of world-class pianists. Growing up in Oregon as the son of a well-known college wrestling coach and a dramatic soprano, he soared to international recognition. Winning five important international competitions by his 23rd birthday, including the Van Cliburn and William Kapell competitions, secured Westcott's place among the world's finest young pianists. After studying at the Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music, Westcott went on to New York and Europe, adding the names of Eugene List and composer Samuel Barber to his other teachers: John Perry, Frank Mannheimer and Cecile Genhart. Westcott performed on four continents, made recordings, appeared on television and was the subject of numerous print tributes. From this foundation of training and concert experience, considered flawless by all critical standards, Westcott has matured into a distinguished and vibrant presence on today's concert scene. Endowed with phenomenal technical command and a huge dynamic range, Westcott's artistry reveals an incomparable singing line, a vast palette of color and an awesome mastery of the pedal. He has confounded the world's most demanding critics and audiences with an almost perfect balance between keen musical intelligence and a profoundly emotional, even spiritual, communicative force. "Wescott's talent is huge," observed music critic David Stabler in the Portland Oregonian. "He can play anything, at any tempo, and look at the ceiling while he's doing it." In 1989, Westcott suffered a serious injury to his left arm which temporarily paralyzed his hand. His successful return to the concert stage was the result of three years of grueling rehabilitation and indomitable spirit. Residing again in Oregon, where he still enjoys fishing and camping in the wilderness, Westcott has seen his life come full circle. Today, by all accounts, this passionate and energetic artist is "better than ever!" Tuesday, April 15--World Premiere Potluck Members of the Oregon Composers Forum will present an evening of new music beginning at 8 p.m. in Beall Concert Hall. Admission is free. Selections to be performed include violin and piano pieces by David Ozab, Brian Coughlin, Lily Barmor and Bill Campbell; three etudes for marimba and a short piece for soloists, chorus and orchestra by Lay Kar Kho; a brass quintet and a piece for choir and flute by David Tsai; a choral piece by Tom Trent; and a work for chamber ensemble by Lily Barmor. Wednesday, April 16--New Jazz for 1997 The UO faculty jazz trio, Confluence, will present an evening of original jazz selections at 8 p.m. in Beall Concert Hall. Tickets, available at the door, are $7 general admission and $4 for students and senior citizens. Members of the trio, all of whom are on the School of Music faculty, include Gary Versace, piano; Dave Captein, bass; and Chris Lee, drums. The program will consist of new jazz material created by the three performers. Captein is an adjunct instructor of jazz bass and an accomplished performer on both bass guitar and string bass. He has worked as a professional musician for more than 20 years in the Northwest. A graduate of Western Washington University and the University of Washington, Captein has performed in shows, studios, nightclubs and classical concert tours. He has worked with many well-known jazz artists and is currently a member of the Tom Grant Band. He free-lances in the Portland area and is an active member of the jazz community there, frequently appearing in the city's many clubs and concert venues. Lee has been a jazz drumset instructor at the University of Oregon since 1995. A drummer, vibist and composer, he attended Marylhurst College and Portland State University, where he was a member of the percussion ensemble under the direction of Tomas Svoboda. In 1980, Lee began a long-standing musical relationship with pianist and ECM recording artist Art Lande and vocalist-cellist Colleen O'Brien. In 1989, Lee joined O'Brien and guitarist Khabu Doug Young to form the alternative chamber jazz group, Primal Mates, which has produced two recordings. Lee has performed at festivals, clubs, and concert halls throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed with such diverse artists as Joe Henderson, Lew Tabackin, Sheila Jordan, Ernie Watts, Julian Priester, Mose Allison, David "Fathead" Newman, Glen Moore and Nancy King. Versace is an assistant professor of jazz piano at the University of Oregon, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1993. He received his Master of Music degree in jazz studies from the Eastman School of Music after receiving bachelor's degrees in both piano performance and music education from the University of Connecticut. As a jazz pianist, he has won several awards, including Best Soloist in the 1993 Downbeat Award in the small ensemble category. Versace has recorded with the Mike Titlebaum Quintet for KB Productions. As an arranger, he has written for such prominent jazz artists as Claudio Roditi. His transcriptions have been published by the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors in "Herman Chittison: A Bio-Discography," by James M. Doran. -30- #P-2199/A&E