Concerto has world premiere at VSU

On Sunday, March 5, at 3 p.m., the Valdosta State University Department of Music and the VSU Office of International Programs will host the world premiere of a new concerto for oboe by renowned Hungarian composer, Frigyes Hidas. The performance will be held in Whitehead Auditorium. Afterwards, there will be a reception in the adjoining Pine Room, for Hidas, as well as all performers and audience members.

Hidas served for many years as conductor for the Hungarian national Theatre in Budapest and as keyboardist with the Hungarian Radio Symphony. He has written extensively for theatre, television, movies and radio and is today considered perhaps the foremost living classical Hungarian composer. In 1959, he received the international Erkel Prize for his first oboe concerto. His second oboe concerto has been composed specifically for this occasion and will feature VSU oboe professor Susan Eischeid as soloist.

The Hungarian Festival Ensemble will be conducted by Laszlo Marosi, artistic director and lead conductor of the Hungarian Army Band from 1982-1995. Hidas will be flying in from Hungary for the premiere.

The program will also feature the faculty Blazerquintet, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra String Quartet, Dr. Larry Scully and the Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. David Lee Johnson, performing works slated for their upcoming Hungarian tour in March.

The premiere will be preceded by a week of lectures exploring different aspects of Hungarian culture and featuring VSU professors Dr. Sheri Gravett, Dr. Eneida Pugh and local artist and sculptor, Luana Goodwin. These lectures will occur daily, Feb. 28-March 1, at noon, in the Conference Room of the Odum Library. Admission is free to all events and the public is invited to attend.

For more information, call Dr. Susan Eischeid at 229-333-5804.