POTSDAM -- As part of the 125th anniversary celebration for The Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam will sponsor an interdisciplinary symposium Friday, April 13, with a variety of lectures and performances.

The "New Music and the North American Academy" symposium aims to provide a new understanding of the relationship between institutions of higher education and the advancement of contemporary music composition.

For many producers of new music, institutions of higher education provide an important source of patronage, employment and shelter from the conservative tastes of the concert-going public. Meanwhile, countless conservatory and music department mission statements celebrate colleges and universities as necessary access points for community members to enjoy contemporary fine arts.

As institutions of higher education grow and assume new roles in the 21st century, relationships between new music and the academy are continually redefined. This symposium hopes to promote lively discussion of the rich history of these partnerships and speculate upon possible future directions.

The public lectures and evening performance are free and open to the public.

The schedule:

• Session I, 9:30 to 11 a.m.: Three lectures will be offered in Ralph Wakefield Recital Hall, with discussions led by faculty members from the University of Utah, SUNY Potsdam and Ithaca College. The topics include: "Vincent Persichetti's Works for Violin and Piano," "Morton Feldman and the University at Buffalo" and "John Cage's HPSCHD at the University of Illinois."

• Session II, 1:45 to 3:30 p.m.: Three lectures will be offered in Wakefield Hall, with participants from SUNY Potsdam, the University of Connecticut and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. Topics include: "Lecture/Performance of Libby Larsen's 'Yellow Jersey,'" "Approaches to Sonata Form in Mid-20th Century American Piano Sonatas" and "Aaron Copland and the Academy."

• Concert, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.: A performance will be offered by Stephen Aron on guitar and Jane Berkner on flute. The guest artist series concert will be offered in the Snell Music Theater, and will predominantly feature music from Latin America.

For more information contact Timothy Sullivan at sullivtr@potsdam.edu or Andre Mount at mountag@potsdam.edu.
For full descriptions of lecture abstracts and the symposium schedule of events, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/Crane/125years/newmusicsymposium