March 17, 1998 School of Music Contact Scott Barkhurst (541) 346-1163 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 NOTE TO EDITORS: The name of J.B. Smith's music publisher is spelled as shown in the last paragraph with the right angle bracket, Whole>Sum Productions. EUGENE--Two concerts featuring contemporary music for clarinet, percussion and ensemble will launch the spring term performance season this week at the University of Oregon School of Music, 961 E. 18th Ave. For more information, call the UO School of Music weekdays 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-hours-a-day taped message of the week's events. Monday, March 30--Contemporary Music Ensemble The UO Contemporary Music Ensemble, specializing in 20th-century chamber music, will give a concert at 8 p.m. in Room 186 of the Music Building, 961 E. 18th Ave. Admission is free. The program includes selections by well-known contemporary composers as well as music by several UO graduate students majoring in composition. Among the featured works are "Fratres" for cello and piano by Arvo Pärt, "The Unanswered Question" for solo vibraphone by Charles Ives and "Portrait of Tracy" for electric bass by Jaco Pastorius. Other selections include "Bounce, Bloom and Bump" by William Campbell, "Chromozone" by Mike Stern, "Insomnia" by David Ozab and "Lost Nations" by Joe Lovano. Wednesday, April 1--Guest Artists: Robert Spring, clarinet; J.B. Smith, percussion Clarinetist Robert Spring and percussionist J.B. Smith, both members of the Arizona State University music faculty, will give a guest artist recital at 8 p.m. in Beall Concert Hall. Tickets, available at the door, are $7 general admission and $4 for students and senior citizens. The ASU Percussion/Clarinet Duo was founded at Arizona State University in 1988. Since then, the ensemble has undertaken several successful tours, including the 1991 and 1995 International ClarinetFests, the 1992 Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium, several composer forums and a Music Educators National Conference. A champion of new music, the ASU Percussion/Clarinet Duo has commissioned new clarinet/percussion chamber works through such composers as Joan Tower, Libby Larsen, David Stock, Norbert Goddaer and Glenn Hackbarth. Spring has been described as one of this country's most sensitive and talented clarinetists. He has several recordings to his credit, including the first recording of award-winning composer Joan Tower's works for clarinet. Spring attended the University of Michigan, where he was awarded three degrees, including the doctor of musical arts. He has performed as a recitalist or soloist with symphonies and wind bands in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America. He has frequently served as clinician and adjudicator, has taught on the faculties of several summer music festivals, and has performed for numerous conventions of the International Clarinet Association. Smith is the coordinator of percussion studies at Arizona State. He has performed and recorded with Ensemble 21, The Daniel Lentz Group, Summit Brass and the Phoenix Symphony. He has recorded for Summit, Fontec, Rhizome Sketch, Leo, Koch and Canyon Records, and is an artist-in-residence for ASU's Institute for Studies in the Arts. Smith is also active as a composer, with numerous works published by Whole>Sum Productions. -30- #P-2165/A&E