Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES WINTER 2015 saI-NaTIONal.ORg 8 N ational Arts Associate William Fred Scott has been named music director of the San Francisco-based vocal ensemble Chanticleer. Scott's first encounter with Chanticleer was in 1994, when he conducted Chanticleer and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a program of music of the Mexican Baroque. In Chanticleer's 2014-15 season he is Guest Music Director of e Gypsy in My Soul and Spanish Gold. He will take up his duties as the group's fih Music Director in August of 2015. Chanticleer is a professional Grammy-winning 12 man a cappella vocal ensemble founded by Louis A. Botto in San Francisco in l978. Known as "An Orchestra of Voices," Chanticleer performs up to 100 concerts a year in the United States, Europe and Asia. Well known on recording and radio, Chanticleer has released over 40 recordings of which well over a million have been sold, and is famed for its holiday program "A Chanticleer Christmas," broadcast on over 300 public radio stations each year. Chanticleer is also known for its award-winning education and commissioning programs. Scott was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Atlanta Opera from 1985-2005 and the Associate Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from 1981-1988, a post offered him by legendary conductor, chorus director, and arranger Robert Shaw. Aer Shaw's passing, Scott presided for six years over "Christmas with the Atlanta Symphony," carrying on the tradition of Shaw's beloved Christmas concerts. As Associate Conductor and Artistic Administrator of the Opera Company of Boston, he worked alongside that company's pioneering founder Sarah Caldwell from 1975-1981 and conducted over 200 performances. He moves to Chanticleer aer a five-year tenure as Director of Choral Music at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. Scott is also well known in Atlanta as an organist. Scott is a native of omasville, GA, and a cum laude graduate of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He has received considerable recognition in Atlanta for his deep personal commitment to the arts, the community and education, including awards from the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Public Broadcasting Atlanta. Scott has conducted with opera companies and symphony orchestras throughout the country including the Opera Company of Boston, the Hawaii Opera eater, Wolf Trap, the New York City Opera, and the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Alabama, Colorado, and Greenville, as well as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He conducted for the Kennedy Center Honors in 1991 and the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. With the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus he led the American premiere of Philip Glass's Canyon. He made his European debut conducting Le Nozze di Figaro at Prague's eater of the Estates in the Czech Republic. — press releases A mOvEmENT IN mUSIC Scott named new musical Director for Chanticleer the audience provided a delightful evening of music-making, as he went beyond mere performance and helped the audience "get behind" the music with his insightful comments. e program began with a Haydn Sonata in B Minor, presenting a grand interpretation of a work not frequently heard. A splendid contrast was achieved with Chopin's Nocturne in C Minor, bringing his technical capability to this bravura work in a heroic manner. e artist followed by introducing the appreciative audience to Toro Takemitsu's Rain Tree Sketch II, which was dedicated to Olivier Messiaen and reflected the shared experience between two cultures. e next work, Liszt's Prelude aer Bach's cantata, "Weiner, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen," provided a delightful contrast to the Takemitsu work. MacDonald then dazzled with Liszt's Les Jeux d'eau a la Villa d'este, communicating his extensive knowledge of the work through his own physical and technical capability. He spoke briefly about Liszt's influence on concert presentations. e extended applause at the conclusion reflected the audience's appreciation of an extraordinary musical evening of contrasting repertoire presented by a splendid musician. In this annual event and in so many other ways, Patricia Barr's life exemplifies the highest commitment to excellence, participatory commitment to high standards, and growth in the cause of music which has always been a hallmark of SAI membership. — alexmcdonaldpiano.com Pat Wooley is a Beta Kappa initiate at Texas Wesleyan University and current member of the Fort Worth Alumnae Chapter, where she has served as president, vice-president, programs, and currently serves as editor. She is a recipient of the Sword of Honor and Rose of Honor. Chanticleer Wernher Krutein photo CONCERT continued from page 7

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