April 8, 1997 School of Music Contact Scott Barkhurst (541) 346-1163 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 EUGENE--The Oregon Symphony will complete its spring tour of Oregon with a one-day residency April 23 at the University of Oregon that will culminate in an 8 p.m. concert in Silva Hall at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, One Eugene Centre. Conductor Murry Sidlin will lead the orchestra through the world premiere of UO Professor Robert Kyr's "Symphony No. 7, The Sound of Light." The program also includes Brahms' "Academic Festival Overture" and Beethoven's magnificent "Symphony No. 5." Tickets, with discounts for students and senior citizens, are available at ticket offices at the Hult Center and at the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 E. 13th Ave. on campus. The residency is a collaboration between the UO School of Music, the Oregon Humanities Center, the Eugene Symphony and the UO Office of Public Affairs and Development, with an additional grant from Bi-Mart. Kyr based his new symphony, written for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, on texts by the acclaimed Seattle poet Denise Levertov. The Oregon Humanities Center commissioned the symphony in honor of the center's 10th anniversary. The featured singer is Milagro Vargas, internationally renowned singer who is also on the School of Music faculty. UO President Dave Frohnmayer will open the concert with welcoming remarks. Kyr's symphony is an "all-Northwest" project. The Oregon Humanities Center is the commissioning body; a composer and a poet from the Northwest are the creative forces; the Oregon Symphony is the performing entity; and Northwest photographer, Mary Randlett, who was inspired by one of Levertov's poems, provides the photo art for the poster. The Northwest was important to Kyr in his selection of Levertov's poems, as they contain many images that are familiar to Oregonians--flowers, trees, water, rain and mist, among others. The poems Kyr selected as the structural basis of his symphony come from Levertov's most recent collection, published this past year, "Sands of the Well." All four poems were inspired by experiences in nature in the Northwest, relating to the quality of light at different times of the day. The five movements of Kyr's symphony--Dawn, Morning, Late Afternoon, Dusk and Deep Night--depict such images as the sun moving through gray mists of morning, raindrops reflecting the morning light on tree branches, and the transforming stillness as sunset turns to dusk. Levertov will be a part of the performance, reading the texts of her poems on stage prior to the actual musical performance so the audience can get a feel for the style and rhythm of her words without the music. Kyr, who has received many prestigious commissions and awards, currently heads the composition department at the UO School of Music. He and Levertov, with whom he has worked before, will present a free pre-concert talk at 7 p.m. in Studio One at the Hult Center. The Oregon Symphony will give Kyr's "Symphony No. 7" its Portland premiere on Oct. 4-6. One of the state's premiere cultural organizations, the Oregon Symphony last year celebrated its 100th anniversary season. Its residency at the University of Oregon is the result of a unique collaboration between the symphony's board, the School of Music, the Oregon Humanities Center and the Eugene Symphony, which is sponsoring the evening concert. Music school officials say the residency will have clear educational benefits for university students. By bringing artists of the highest caliber to work directly with students in their own orchestral setting, the residency will supplement the in-depth education that undergraduate and graduate music students at the university currently receive. The world premiere concert is expected to draw strong attendance from regular Eugene Symphony patrons, community leaders, alumni, UO Foundation trustees, UO President's Associates, faculty, donors and friends of the university. Other free public events during the Oregon Symphony's Eugene residency include: Wednesday, April 23 * 1 p.m.: The Oregon Symphony Horn Quartet will perform in the Taylor Lounge at the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 E. 13th Ave. * 2 p.m.: Oregon Symphony Concertmaster Michael Foxman will give a presentation in Beall Concert Hall, 961 E. 18th Ave., on "How to Audition for a Professional Orchestra, and Tips on Orchestral Playing." * 3-4:30 p.m.: Members of the Oregon Symphony will conduct sectional rehearsals for the University Symphony Orchestra. Strings will rehearse with Michael Foxman (concertmaster) in Beall Hall; winds, brass and percussion will be with John Cox (principal horn) in Room 186 of the Music Building. Designed for UO music students and interested Eugene Symphony members. * 6-7 p.m.: Don Roth, president of the Oregon Symphony, will speak to the UO Arts Management Program on "Arts Management and Board Relations" in Room 249 of Lawrence Hall, 1190 Franklin Blvd. Arts professionals and arts organization board members are particularly welcome. Thursday, April 24 * 10 a.m.-Noon: Oregon Symphony Conductor Murry Sidlin will meet with conducting students in Room 186 of the Music Building to coach conducting technique. * 1 p.m.: Murry Sidlin will speak at the UO Music Student Forum in Beall Concert Hall on "The Whereabouts of the Symphony Orchestra: Intensive Care or Death Row?" -30- #P-2171/A&E,Special