Living American Composers: New Music from Bowling Green

About

"Magnetic North for new music lovers points to Bowling Green, Ohio." – David Lang, winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in music.

For the last 35 years, hundreds of composers, performers, and lovers of contemporary music have descended annually on a small college town in Northwest Ohio for a singular event: the New Music Festival at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Home to the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music, BGSU also sponsors a multi-venue concert series called Music at the Forefront, which shines a spotlight on new and exciting young performers.

Produced by WGTE Public Media and hosted by Brad Cresswell, New Music from Bowling Green features live concert recordings from the New Music Festival and Music at the Forefront, alongside the commercial discography of related composers, alumni, and BGSU faculty. Designed with the mainstream classical listener in mind, the program features audience-friendly works that are introduced by their respective composers and performers.

This season we focus on BGSU residencies with composers David Lang and Jennifer Higdon; composer Paul Dresher and his Double Duo, and contemporary music groups Alarm Will Sound and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). We also visit our “neighbors to the north” with two programs from University of Michigan composers, and we explore the professional and personal dynamics between some high-profile classical couples—including veteran composer Sam Adler and his wife, conductor Emily Freeman-Brown.

About Brad Cresswell

Award-winning producer; programmer, and music host Brad Cresswell is Radio Program Manager and Music Director for WGTE Public Media in Toledo, Ohio. Previously, Brad was a host and producer for WNYC Radio in New York, where he oversaw the creation of that station's 24/7 contemporary music service on the Internet and HD Radio, WNYC2 (precursor to WQXR's popular Q2 channel). Brad has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Metropolitan Opera Radio, both behind the scenes as a writer and in front of the microphone as host of the popular Metropolitan Opera Quiz. Before entering the Public Radio arena, Brad enjoyed a successful 16 year career as an opera singer, with leading roles at the New York City Opera; Lyric Opera of Chicago; San Francisco Opera; Washington Opera, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires to his credit, among others. His singing voice can be heard on commercial classical recordings issued by the London, Philips, New World, Innova, and Carlton Classics record labels. 

Time

Saturdays at 9 p.m.