New Christian music in classical genres will be the focus of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers (CFAMC) national conference October 5-7, 2017, at Fresno Pacific University.
The CFAMC is a group of international composers who write symphonic, chamber, opera and other works to glorify Jesus Christ. The organization consists of professional and student composers, church musicians and others.
There will be five public performances, all free of charge:
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7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 5—Chamber instrumental groups, McDonald Hall Atrium, FPU main campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno
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10:00 a.m. Friday, October 6—College Hour, Special Events Center, FPU main campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno
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3:30 p.m. Friday, October 6—FPU choirs, Seminary Chapel/North Hall 123, FPU main campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno
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7:30 p.m. Friday, October 6—Chamber choral groups, Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno
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3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 7—FPU Symphonic Band, Saxophone Quartet and Wind Quintet, Butler Church, 4884 E. Butler Ave., Fresno
Performers will include FPU choral and instrumental ensembles as well as professional vocalists and instrumentalists from the Central Valley. Composers and scholars will also present papers and participate in peer reviews of previously performed and recorded works.
Walter Saul, D.M.A., professor of music at FPU, is the impetus for the conference’s first visit to Fresno. Involved with CFAMC since its beginnings in 1995, he became vice president in 2016. About 19 composers from the United States, Italy and Portugal are expected to attend and perform. Perhaps the best-known to California audiences will be Frank LaRocca, faculty emeritus at California State University, East Bay, whose award-winning compositions have received international acclaim.
“The event will enable the FPU community to have fellowship with some pretty amazing creators of new classical music, and to hear their witness and their stories as followers of Christ,” Saul said.