Friday, April 13, 2018

John Malveaux: UCLA.edu: Concert celebrates award-winning UCLA composer and flute virtuoso James Newton for his 65th birthday

James Newton

John Malveaux of 
writes:

Honoring educator, flutist, and composer Dr. James Newton  April 22, 2018.  

UCLA

Six of Newton’s original compositions, including two world premieres, offer a glimpse into his evolution as a composer

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he UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music presents a tribute concert to honor award-winning composer James Newton, a distinguished professor and interim director of jazz studies at UCLA.

Newton has written more than 300 compositions during the course of his illustrious career. Performed worldwide from Carnegie Hall to the Berlin National Gallery, Newton’s work encompasses chamber, symphonic, jazz, world and electronic music genres, as well as compositions for ballet and modern dance.
The “Amazing Grace: James Newton at 65” concert, which is free, will be held on Sunday, April 22, at 6 p.m. in Schoenberg Hall and features the Southeast Symphony, the longest continuously performing primarily African-American orchestra in the world, conducted by Anthony Parnther. Soprano Holly Sedillos, Grammy Award-winning UCLA pianist Gloria Cheng, bassist Eric Shetzen, horn soloist Dylan Skye Hart, and the Lyris Quartet round out the roster.
“If there are recurrent themes in the concert, they will first and foremost reflect my faith, which infuses my artistic life as a composer of sacred music,” said Newton, who is also an internationally acclaimed flute virtuoso. “Another theme, which draws from the first, is broad inspiration from my African-American cultural roots, and the impact of my being a touring musician and composer for more than 30 years.”

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