2014-2015 Featured Composer:
Wynn-Anne Rossi
It is my great pleasure to introduce this year’s adopted composer, Wynn-Anne Rossi. We will have the opportunity this year to work with Ms. Rossi as each student in the PPLS studies her compositions and is encouraged to compose and improvise original compositions of his/her own.
At the end of the year selected students from the PPLS and broader community will be invited to perform Ms. Rossi’s compositions and several new works commissioned by the PPLS in a recital, masterclass or as part of interactive workshops in the public schools in Pullman. The PPLS teachers will encourage students to write questions to Ms. Rossi, and to create poster-sized “cover art” for the compositions.
Additionally, we’ll host a Meet the Composer hour for students to ask the composer questions, and request autographs and photographs. This is going to be another exciting year for all of us, and I hope you will join with me in encouraging your students to unleash their creativity in musical expression, improvisation and composition this year at the piano!
Biography
Wynn-Anne Rossi is a nationally acclaimed composer whose works have reached audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Iceland and Australia. Commissions include works sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio, the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Composers Forum and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. She has over 75 publications, primarily for piano, which are widely distributed throughout the country. Her repertoire also includes compositions for vocal and chamber groups, percussion ensembles, concert band and orchestra.
Wynn-Anne has a specialty for bringing the art of composition to young musicians. She is currently composer-in-residence for the Orchestra Program, an educational outreach of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Composition residencies include Rossi commissions for band or orchestra designed for the students. Additional partnerships have included the Cowles Center for Dance and Performing Arts, Hennepin Center for the Arts, American Composers Forum and the Ordway Center. Rossi has also written two complete series of workbooks which encourage young pianists to compose: “Music by Me” (FJH Publishing) and “Creative Composition Toolbox” (Alfred Publishing).
Active as a presenter, Wynn-Anne is known for her innovative lectures, workshops and masterclasses. She has given talks throughout the United States on a variety of subjects, presenting for organizations such as the Music Teachers National Association. Encouragement of creative expression has also taken her beyond the borders into Reykjavik, Iceland and Bamako, Mali.
Rossi was educated at the University of Colorado in theory and composition. Further training included choral conducting at Harvard University and jazz pedagogy through the University of Illinois. She has also studied under Pulitzer Prize recipient Aaron Jay Kernis.
Adopted Composer Events
Friday, April 24th
Wynn-Anne Rossi workshops in the public schools
Wynn-Anne Rossi Recital, 6:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall
Saturday, April 25th
Masterclass with Wynn-Anne Rossi, 9:00 a.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall
Meet the Composer, 10:30 a.m., Kimbrough Concert Hall
Wynn-Anne Rossi Clinic, 2:00 p.m. in Kimbrough 101