Women's Month at Virginia Tech Kicks Off with a Tribute to Women Composers

Over 400 years of works by women composers will be honored, including one work written by Virginia Tech composition student Sonnet Wright, in a special concert on Wednesday, March 1, at 8 p.m. in Squires Recital Salon. Admission is free, though a free-will donation will be taken to support the work of the Women?s Resource Center of the New River Valley. A reception will follow in the Squires Student Center Jamestown Room.

The tribute concert is the second annual collaboration between the Music Department and the Women?s Center of Virginia Tech, featuring choral and instrumental performances by Virginia Tech Music Department faculty, students, and a number of guest artists. Among the student groups performing are the Women?s Chorale, conducted by Brian Gendron, and the Virginia Tech Flute Quartet. Featured guest artists include Judy Bevans, Lisa Liske-Doorandish, Leon Kok, Linda Plaut, Theresa Conti, and Stefan Kolb.

Featured composers include Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, who was one of the leading composers for the courts of Louis XIV and XV and modern composer Shirl Jae Atwell, who contributes her ?DMO II for 2 Violins and 2 Violas.? The Women?s Chorale performs two works by composers Rosephanye Powell and Agneta Sk?ld, and Virginia Tech Music professor Kent Holiday performs ?Giovent?: A Popular Suite? by student Sonnet Wright.

For more information on upcoming events in Music at Virginia Tech, please call 540-231-5685 or visit www.music.vt.edu.