September 4, 2002

SMU'S MEADOWS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM SEPT. 13 & 15
Program to feature world premiere of two works in remembrance of 9/11

DALLAS (SMU) -- The Meadows Symphony Orchestra at SMU's Meadows School of the Arts, led by conductor Paul Phillips, will present "The Art of Variation" at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, in Caruth Auditorium of the Owen Arts Center, 6101 Bishop Blvd. on the SMU campus. Parking is available at Hillcrest and Binkley and in the parking garage beneath the Meadows Museum. Tickets are $12 adults, $9 seniors and $6 SMU students/faculty/staff. For more information, call 214-768-2787.

The program features the world premiere of two works in remembrance of the tragedy of September 11, 2001: In the Time Before Dawn, written by Paul Phillips, and 9/11, written by Simon Sargon. The program will also include Brahms' Haydn Variations, Bizet's L'Arlesienne: Suite No. 2 and Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.

The Meadows Symphony Orchestra is comprised of gifted students from many parts of the United States and a number of countries around the world. The orchestra includes students in undergraduate, graduate and artist certificate programs in the Division of Music at the Meadows School. Many of the performers are active as international soloists and are prizewinners at international music competitions.

Paul Phillips is professor of music, chair of the department of conducting and ensembles, and music director of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra at the Meadows School. He formerly served as assistant conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and as music director of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Phillips earned both a master's and a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and studied conducting with James Rives-Jones, Erich Leinsdorf and others. He has accompanied such well-known soloists as Itzhak Perlman and James Galway, and has recorded for Novisse, Grenadilla and Centaur Records.

Composer and pianist Simon Sargon, a graduate of Brandeis University and The Juilliard School, is professor of composition at the Meadows School. Among his major works are Symphony No. 1: Holocaust (1985), which was premiered by Eduardo Mata and the Dallas Symphony in 1991; Implosions for Two Pianos (1996); and Tapestries, which was also premiered by the Dallas Symphony in December 1998. Sargon's work as both composer and pianist may be heard on the New World, Crystal, Ongaku and Gasparo labels.

The 2002-2003 season sponsor of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra is The Dallas Morning News. The Meadows School of the Arts Division of Music is also sponsored by WRR 101.1 FM.