March 19, 2008

Whitworth's Inaugural CompFest April 4-5 to Feature Emmy-Nominated Composer and Conductor

Whitworth University will host CompFest 2008, "In Synch: The Marriage of Music and Motion Pictures," April 4-5. The two-day festival will feature lectures and a master class on film scoring presented by guest artist Bruce Frazier, D.M.A., an Emmy-nominated composer and conductor with many years of experience in writing, editing and conducting music for television and film. Admission to all events is free. For more information, please call (509) 777-3280.

CompFest was spearheaded by Whitworth senior composition major Shawn Tolley, whose goal was to bring an accomplished composer to campus to give lectures and concerts and to work with Whitworth music students. During CompFest 2008, Frazier will present a lecture/recital with the Whitworth Symphony Orchestra in which he will discuss how music is composed and arranged for film and television. Another component of the festival is the April 4 Intercollegiate Composers Forum, which will feature the premier of new works by Whitworth and Gonzaga University student composers.

Following is a schedule of CompFest 2008 events at Whitworth University:

Friday, April 4:

• 1 p.m.: A lecture, "Music for Film and Television: An Insider's Perspective"
  Presented by Bruce Frazier
  Music Building Recital Hall

• 2 p.m.: A lecture, "Introduction to Film Scoring"
  Presented by Bruce Frazier
  Music Building Recital Hall

• 8 p.m.: Intercollegiate Composers Forum
  Featuring new compositions by Whitworth and Gonzaga students
  Cowles Auditorium

Saturday, April 5:

• 1 p.m.: Lecture and recital, "Music for Film"
  Featuring Bruce Frazier and the Whitworth University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Philip Baldwin, D.M.A., director of string studies and assistant professor of violin
  Cowles Auditorium

• 3:30 p.m.: Film scoring master class
  Presented by Bruce Frazier
  Cowles Auditorium

Bruce Frazier joined the faculty of Western Carolina University in 1998 as the first recipient of the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professorship in Commercial and Electronic Music. The Academy of Television Arts and Science has twice recognized Frazier for his contributions to dramatic underscores and sound mixing for television programs. He has been nominated for several Emmys for his role as music editor on the TV series "Quantum Leap," and was nominated for a Golden Reel for his work on the TV series "JAG." Along with composing and editing, Frazier specializes in music technology, particularly in MIDI synthesis and the recording arts.

In addition to his professional work as conductor for television and film, Frazier was the orchestra director and arranger for country singer Loretta Lynn for more than a decade. He has conducted for other artists including Ronnie Milsap and Mac Davis, and was the music coordinator for "Dolly," the ABC TV series starring singer Dolly Parton. Frazier holds bachelor's and master's degrees in music from East Carolina University and a doctorate in music from the University of Southern California, where he studied conducting with James Vail and Rodney Eichenberger.

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private, liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of 2,600 students, offers 53 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Brent Edstrom, associate professor of music, coordinator of music theory and composition program, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4590 or bedstrom@whitworth.edu.