MUSIC OF THE AVANT-GARDE

COURSE LEADERS: Robin McNeil

MEETS: Wednesdays TIME: 10:00am - 12:00pm

DATES COURSE MEETS: Please note ONE class will take place TUESDAY, Oct 13 FROM 1-3PM

PRICE: $70.00

LOCATION: 8081 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Map

TYPE: Lecture,Discussion

CATEGORY: MUSIC

DESCRIPTION:

The avant-garde means NOW. So, when did the avant-garde period begin? What did Arnold Schoenberg do that sets him forever in a special category? Who are the composers that followed him into the modern era? Who were the composers that were considered to be modernists before the avant-garde? These composers’ thoughts and objectives will be discussed, and you will learn why music has been the slowest art to change.

COURSE LEADER:
Robin McNeil

Robin McNeil began his study of piano at DePauw University at the age of four, taking lessons with Irene Soltas. He has a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Indiana University and a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Illinois. He began his teaching career at the University of Illinois and then went to the University of South Dakota where he was Chairman of the Piano Department.

He has performed more than 300 concerts throughout the United States and has written many musicology book reviews for Choice magazine of the American Library Association and Publisher’s Weekly, in addition to being an experienced music critic for newspapers. He is also a published poet, and the Denver composer, David Mullikin, has used his poems for art song texts.

In the past, Robin has been thoroughly involved in arts management as the Executive Director of the Fine Arts Center of Clinton (Illinois), State Treasurer of the Association of Illinois Arts Agencies, and member of the Long Range Planning Committee of the Central Illinois Cultural Affairs Consortium. Robin has been the Executive Director of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra Foundation.

Outside the sphere of music, Robin has raced Alfa Romeo and Ferrari automobiles and flown WW II vintage aircraft. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Robin now lives with his wife in Littleton where he teaches privately and continues to do research on the French composer Théodore Gouvy. He is President of the Piano Arts Association, and an Honorary Member of the Institut Théodore Gouvy of Hombourg-Haut, France.