Kansas City Area Composers Discuss Their New Works for Vocal Ensemble Octarium

Local composers will talk about their efforts to create new performance pieces for the Kansas City vocal ensemble Octarium on Friday, March 2, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.

The panel discussion - The State of Choral Music in an American Idol Age - features composers Forrest Pierce, Robert Pherigo, Ian Coleman, and Ingrid Stölzel. It takes place just a day before Octarium's performance on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at Community Christian Church, 4601 Main St., at which it will premiere several new works.

Last year Octarium commissioned the original pieces from Pherigo, Missouri's Composer Laureate for 2010; Rich Campbell, winner of Octarium's 2011 Composition Competition; Pierce, and Coleman.

The ensemble also has sponsored student composer competitions and worked with composer interns from area colleges.

The March 3 concert is a spin-off of the "locavore" trend that encourages people to eat locally-grown food. In that spirit, Octarium seeks to perform locally-composed music.

Octarium is an eight-voice group that performs unaccompanied choral works. Founded in 2003, it has earned a national reputation for what composer Morton Lauridsen calls "stunning artistry combined with an absolutely beautiful blending of voices." The group has produced four recordings: Octarium, Hodie, Essentials, and Modern Masters.

Admission is free. A 6 p.m. reception precedes the event. RSVP online [1] or call 816.701.3407. Free parking is available at the Library District Parking Garage at 10th & Baltimore

Major funding for programs at the Kansas City Public Library is provided by a generous grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.