SHEPHERD SCHOOL ORCHESTRA TO PREMIERE WORK OF AL-ZAND

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra
Larry Rachleff, music director
Program: Karim Al-Zand - City Scenes: Three Urban Dances for Orchestra (2006; Premiere); Dukas - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Cristian Macelaru, conductor); and Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances, Op. 45.
8:00 p.m., Stude Concert Hall

The concert features the world premiere of an orchestral work by Shepherd School faculty member and awarding-winning composer Karim Al-Zand. The 12-minute work is entitled "City Scenes: three urban dances for orchestra" and was written for the orchestra's director, conductor Larry Rachleff.

Karim Al-Zand

The Shepherd School's orchestra is one of the finest in the nation, and in addition to performing works from the standard repertoire, they have premiered several important new works as part of their concert series. Most recently, Pierre Jalbert's "Concerto for Horn and Orchestra," with soloist William VerMeulen, was premiered in 2004. Al-Zand's "City Scenes," in the composer's words, "comprises three short, interconnected dances, which reflect on the alluring tumult of city life." The work was composed in the fall and orchestra has been preparing the piece for performance since January. 

"This sort of performance opportunity is rare for a composer. To have a symphonic work prepared so expertly over many rehearsals, with the opportunity to work closely with the orchestra and to really refine the performance." 

Also on the February 16th program is "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" by Paul Dukas and "Symphonic Dances" by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The concert is in Stude Concert Hall at 8:00 pm and admission is free.



The music of composer Karim Al-Zand (b.1970) has been called “strong and startlingly lovely” (Boston Globe). His compositions are wide-ranging, from settings of classical Arabic poetry to scores for dance and pieces for young audiences. Many of his works explore connections between music and other arts, and draw inspiration from diverse sources such as 19th century graphic art, fables of the world, folksong and jazz.

Al-Zand’s music has enjoyed success in the US, Canada and abroad and he is the recipient of several national awards, including the Sackler Composition Prize, the ArtSong Prize and the Louisville Orchestra Competition Prize. He holds degrees from Harvard and McGill Universities and is currently on the faculty of the Shepherd School of Music (Rice University) in Houston. Al-Zand is also a founding member and vice-president of Musiqa, Houston’s premiere contemporary music group.