MONROE, Mich. – The Monroe County Community College/Community Symphony Band will present the second installment of Epochs of the Great Lakes -- a five-year initiative to commission original compositions from guest composers with Michigan roots -- with the world premiere of a composition by Frank Duarte titled Zephyr, a tribute to Michigan’s Indigenous peoples, honoring their cultural legacy and enduring harmony with the natural beauty of the Great Lakes region.
Last year's installment featured the world premiere of a composition by Chris Evan Haas titled "Electric Ascension."
The performance will take place on Monday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the La-Z-Boy Center, Meyer Theater at Monroe County Community College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd. It is free and open to the public.
The performance will be proceeded by a wine and cheese reception from 5:30-7 p.m. in Room 259 of the La-Z-Boy Center, which is located just off the atrium. The reception is free and open to public.
Duarte is an American composer, conductor, songwriter and poet whose works are influenced by a kaleidoscope of colors, emotion and sonorities often inspired by nature, history, literature, and his Latino and Indigenous heritage.
His music has received numerous awards, including the American Prize, Global Music Award and two American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Plus Awards. Other honors include winning the inaugural University of North Carolina-Greensboro Indigenous Composers Choral Composition Competition, the Michigan State University Jere Hutcheson Large Ensemble Competition and the MSU Honors Composition Competition. His music has been performed in over 20 states and abroad in Canada, Japan, Greece and Colombia. It has been featured in books, conducting symposia, seminars, and conferences and has been the subject of scholarly and academic documents.
Duarte has written for Sō Percussion, Imani Winds, and the Princeton Singers, and his music has been performed by ensembles such as the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music Orchestra, Choral Arts Initiative, Minnesota Winds, the National Concert Band of America, the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America and the Pasadena Chorale. His music has been performed at prominent institutions, including Arizona State University, Butler University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Cauca, Manhattan School of Music, Michigan State University, University of New Mexico, University of North Texas, Portland State University, Texas Tech University, Tufts University, and Interlochen Center for the Arts, among many others.
He earned Associate of Arts degrees in Music, History and Interdisciplinary Studies in Science and Mathematics from Fullerton College. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Music degree in composition from Butler University. He pursued doctoral studies at Texas Tech University and subsequently served as a University Enrichment Fellow at Michigan State University, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition. Duarte also received an artist diploma from Academy Music Conservatory where he was a Composition Fellow in the Gabriela Ortiz Composition Studio.
Epochs of the Great Lakes is commissioned and funded by The Foundation at Monroe County Community College and made possible through the generosity of donors and the support of The Foundation's Cultural Enrichment Endowment.
"Each composition in this bold and visionary five-year initiative is written specifically for, and performed by, the MCCC College/Community Symphonic Band," said Josh Myers, executive director of The Foundation at MCCC.
Each piece in the collection serves as a musical time capsule, capturing a distinct era in the state's rich and ever-evolving history, he said.
Future "Epochs of the Great Lakes" compositions will include:
- 2027: "Michigan Fever" by Elena Specht, spotlighting the era of early European settlement and frontier life -- an age of resilience, exploration and conflict -- depicting the struggle to tame a rugged wilderness.
- 2028: An examination of the cultural and social turbulence of the post-industrial late 20th century, weaving themes of protest, reinvention, urban decayand environmental reckoning. Composer and title are not yet available.
- 2029: "Rebirth" by Scott Boerma, a celebration of the renewal of Michigan as a dynamic and diverse state continually reinventing itself with creativity and purpose.
"Together," Myers said, "these works form a powerful musical narrative that echoes across time, honoring Michigan’s legacy while looking boldly toward its future."
The College and Community Symphony Band is made up of nearly 100 members consisting of MCCC students and members of the community, many of whom have been with the band for many years.
Mark B. Felder is in his 34th year directing the band at MCCC. He was the band director of the award-winning Jefferson High School Band for 29 years.
About The Foundation at Monroe County Community College
The Foundation at Monroe County Community College is the charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the educational and cultural experience of our students and community. The Foundation at MCCC leverages voluntary support from donors to enhance the educational, literary, scientific, and cultural experience by helping Monroe County Community College meet its mission. The Foundation at MCCC touches thousands of lives each year through cultural arts programs, scholarships, and educational initiatives that guide and shape the business and civic leaders of tomorrow. Just as important, The Foundation offers a means for individuals of all ages and walks of life to express their philanthropy, act on their concerns, and follow the dictates of their hearts. For more information about The Foundation at MCCC visit //www.monroeccc.edu/foundation.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition. The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu
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