RICE PROFESSOR WINS COMPOSING COMPETITION
OCTOBER 22, 2003

Office of News and Media Relations
Ellen Chang
Media Relations Specialist
713-348-6777
Email: ellenc@rice.edu

Karim Al-Zand, an assistant professor of composition and theory at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University was selected as the recipient of the second annual Raymond and Beverly Sackler Music Competition Prize.

The international award includes a prize of $20,000 and is sponsored by the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut. The competition supports and promotes aspiring composers and the performance of their new musical works.

Al-Zand's piece will premiere next spring at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. A second performance will occur at the university's Stamford campus.

"I feel very privileged and honored to have been awarded this year's Sackler prize," he said. "It's a tremendous opportunity for me and I'm very excited to be writing for such an accomplished performer as James Ackley."

Al-Zand wrote a proposal for a concertino for trumpet and also submitted his works to be considered for the competition. He was chosen among 50 entries.

The multi-movement piece will be 15-18 minutes long and will be written for a solo trumpet and a small chamber group.

Al-Zand received his bachelor of music degree from McGill University in 1993 and his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2000.

In 1998 he won the Salvatore Martirano Composition Competition for his string quartet. His most recent commissions have been from ALEA III, the New England Conservatory Camerata and Houston's OrchestraX. As a pianist, Al-Zand has performed in jazz settings and has directed and composed for an 18-piece ensemble he formed in 1995. He currently pursues several areas of music theoretical work, including research on jazz and improvisation related topics.