Local Musicians Give World Premiere

Philip Ficsor and Emma Lou Diemer unveil the world premiere of Diemer’s “Suite for Violin and Piano” Wednesday, May 7, at 11 a.m. in the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Faulkner Gallery, 40 East Anapamu Street. The free concert is presented by the Santa Barbara Music Club.

Ficsor, professor of violin at Westmont, and Diemer, renowned composer and professor emeritus at UC Santa Barbara, are collaborating on a recording of Diemer’s complete works for violin and piano. She composed “Suite for Violin and Piano” in January 2008 specifically for this project.

Diemer taught music theory and composition at UCSB from 1971 to 1991, and played the organ for First Presbyterian Church 1984 to 2002. She was composer-in-residence for the Santa Barbara Symphony 1990 to 1992, and has composed hundreds of works for chorus, orchestra, small ensembles and solo instruments.

“Suite for Violin and Piano” includes three movements: “Summer Day,” “Elegy” and “Jazz Romp.” Ficsor, whose ensemble American Double recently completed a national tour, will also play Beethoven’s “Sonata in G major, Op. 30, No. 3” with pianist Betty Oberacker. Several other musicians are featured in the program.

For more information about the concert contact the Santa Barbara Music Club at (805) 683-0811 or info@sbmusicclub.org or visit www.sbmusicclub.org. For information about Ficsor and his collaboration with Diemer, please call (805) 565-6889 or e-mail ssquire@westmont.edu