OSU students perform in Italy

Friday, August 17, 2012

OSU students and faculty taught and performed at the Cortona Sessions for New Music in Italy. The annual event brings together top young musicians to collaborate on world-premiere performances. Left to right, Mallory Turlington, Michael Kirkendoll, Paige Martin, and Jeffrey Loeffert.

OSU students perform in Italy

OSU students Paige Martin and Mallory Turlington were selected to join 22 other talented young performers and composers for two weeks of contemporary music study and performance in Cortona, Italy, recently. Martin, a junior vocal performance major and Turlington, a masters candidate in vocal performance, collaborated in multiple world-premiere performances of works composed specifically for the Cortona Sessions for New Music. The students also studied with a faculty of contemporary music specialists, including OSU faculty members Dr. Michael Kirkendoll, assistant professor of piano, and Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert, assistant professor of saxophone.

The Cortona Sessions for New Music has supported the work of nearly 70 young musicians, and has enjoyed the world premieres of over 100 new compositions since it was founded three years ago by Kirkendoll, who also serves as the artistic director. Faculty from the Cortona Sessions have visited OSU on several occasions, and will return to campus in February as part of the second annual OSU Festival of Contemporary Music.

For more information about the Cortona Sessions go to www.cortonasessions.com