An original composition by Dan Rager, UW-Fond du Lac music professor, will be performed by the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra (FVSO) during their concert at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 4, at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton.
Rager’s composition “Millennium” was chosen by popular vote through the FVSO website. Ten original compositions were selected as finalists by Brian Groner, music director. The public was then invited to visit the website, listen to the selections, and vote online for their favorite piece.
The selection to be performed is from the first movement of Rager’s first symphony, which has four movements in all. Rager spent 14 months writing the entire work.
“Millennium” was first performed by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony in 2000 and has had many international performances since then.
Rager was thrilled to learn the piece would be performed again and that it is appreciated locally.
“I was very excited to learn about the piece being selected,” said Rager. “There were several major composers on the list and winning makes this even more special.”
Inspiration for the piece came from a sense of and reflection of good and evil explained Rager.
“It begins very slowly and dramatically with a lot of tension before the music takes off to a brisk tempo. The movement ends in serenity, the opposite of its beginning.”
A member of the UW-Fond du Lac faculty since 2008, Rager is recognized internationally as a composer and conductor of symphonic music. He has over 100 compositions and arrangements published by major publishing companies.
Tickets are available for the Feb.4, 7:30 p.m. concert through the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra website: www.foxvalleysymphony.com. For more information about UW-Fond du Lac call (920) 929-1100.
Contact
Laurie Krasin
920-929-1100
fdlinfo@uwc.edu