Classical concert to showcase professors

Allen and Stephen Anderson are not yet household names in classical composition, but these professors are the soundtrack for many UNC students studying music composition and theory.

Both professors will feature one of their own compositions at 7:30 p.m. today in Hill Hall. Five total compositions will be performed.

The collaborative concert will also showcase University of South Carolina professor John Fitz Rogers, who is well-known in the music community for his pieces performed around the world in venues like Carnegie Hall and the Washington National Cathedral.

“I’m very excited and honored to be invited to UNC,” said Fitz Rogers, who has yet to ever feature his music here at UNC. “I am excited to see what students here are doing. I plan on meeting and talking with them.”

Each composer’s work incorporates a classical contemporary vibe, a diverse and eclectic mix depending on the individual piece.

Allen Anderson, who will debut his piano piece “Some Ragged Spots,” said he believes modern composition holds great importance for continued growth in the classical genre.

“The majority of classical music that is performed was written by people that live somewhere else or are not alive,” Allen Anderson said. “Like any art form, music changes with the time, and to show that change is so important.”

His piece is written for and will be performed by retired UNC professor Thomas Warburton. Anderson said this creates a strong connection between past and present faculty.

The connection also extends beyond faculty to students like junior Alex Van Gils, who said he shares great respect for his professors and their independent work.

“I’ve been taught and have performed with both Allen and Stephen Anderson,” Van Gils said. “They both are so different stylistically it’s a great complement for students.”

Van Gils said a favorite memory from his first year was when Professor Stephen Anderson spontaneously asked him to come and play with him.

“I still remember my first week of school when Professor Anderson called me at 8 a.m. to ask if I wanted to come play bass with him,” he said. “Both teachers reach out to their students beyond just the classroom.”

And with Fitz Rogers also present, the three composers will provide an educational experience for both students and Chapel Hill locals alike.

Stephen and Allen Anderson’s work is an inspiration to music undergraduates, many of whom are still undecided about where their path lies, but secure in their love for music and composition, Van Gils said.

“With Allen’s conversational debates and Stephen’s prompted collaborations, you get a variety of opinions that I have come to appreciate as I question what lies ahead for me in my bass performance future,” he said.



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