Luther’s Music in the Shape of a Pear concert series features new music, ensemble in residence

Two March events will bring the sounds of contemporary music to the Jensen-Noble Hall of Music on the campus of Luther College.

A colloquium with guest composer Forrest Pierce will be held Monday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Room 123.

A concert of new music featuring the New Music Ensemble of the University of Kansas will be held Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. in the Noble Recital Hall in the Jenson-Noble Hall of Music.

Both the colloquium and concert are part of Luther’s Music in the Shape of a Pear concert series. The events, organized by Brooke Joyce, Luther assistant professor of music, are open to the public with no charge for admission.

The concert will feature works by visiting composer Forrest Pierce as well as John Cage, Louis Andriessen, Daniel McCarthy and Joyce.

Pierce joined the University of Kansas faculty in 2006 as assistant professor of composition and director of the New Music Ensemble. He has taught on the faculties of Lewis and Clark College and the University of Texas, served as artistic director of the Friends of Rain contemporary ensemble and as composer-in-residence of the Seattle New Music Ensemble. 

Pierce was a student of Don Freund, Stephen Paulus and Dominick Argento. He holds the bachelor of arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, the master of music degree from the University of Minnesota, and the doctor of musical arts degree from Indiana University.

Joyce joined the Luther faculty in 2005, teaching composition, theory, contemporary music history and electronic music.  In addition to Luther, Joyce is also a faculty member of the Walden School in New Hampshire.

Joyce holds degrees in theory/composition from Princeton University, the Cleveland Institute of Music and Lawrence University.

He has composed music for a variety of chamber ensembles, orchestras and soloists, but his primary interest is music for theater. Among his music-theater collaborations is “Unbekannt,” a musical based on the life of Anna Anderson, the famous Anastasia pretender. Joyce also enjoys playing piano and organ and exploring the outdoors.

Forrest Pierce and the University of Kansas New Music Ensemble’s appearances are made possible by a grant through the Luther College Lecturer in Fine Arts fund.