Conductor Anne Manson leads the Juilliard Orchestra in works by Zhou Long, Mozart, Jennifer Higdon, and Bartok on Thursday, October 11 at 8 PM in The Peter Jay Sharp Theater

Anne Manson returns to Juilliard this season for the first of two appearances this season conducting the Juilliard Orchestra on Thursday, October 11 at 8 PM in The Peter Jay Sharp Theater in a program featuring Zhou Long’s The Rhyme of Taigu (2003); Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C Major, K. 503 (soloist to be announced September 26); Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico (1999); and Bartók’s A csodálatos mandarin, suite, Op. 19 (The Miraculous Mandarin).

Chinese-born American composer Zhou Long’s The Rhyme of Taigu is an orchestral work that makes use of percussion instruments; its title refers to a large Chinese drum – “dagu.” The composer reconstructs what might have been the drum ceremonies of the Tang Dynasty. Zhou Long has written orchestral, chamber and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world. He studied composition with Wu Zu-qiang at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing from 1977-1983 and continued his studies with Chou Wen-chung and Mario Davidovsky at Columbia University where he earned his DMA in 1993.

Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico celebrates the rhythm and speed of life and comments on its quickening pace. Ms. Higdon’s works have been commissioned by major orchestras around the country. She has received awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts & Letters, Meet-the-Composer, National Endowment for the Arts, and ASCAP. Her works have been recorded on over two dozen CDs. She holds a Ph.D. and a M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in composition, a B.M. in flute performance from Bowling Green State University, and an artist diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music. She is currently a member of the faculty of Curtis.

Tickets are FREE and will be available on September 27 at the Juilliard Box Office, located at 60 Lincoln Center Plaza. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 11 AM – 6 PM. The Juilliard Box Office is accessible by elevator/escalator, located on W. 65th Street near Amsterdam Avenue. For further information, call the Juilliard Box Office at (212) 769-7406 or visit www.juilliard.edu.
       
Anne Manson has achieved a series of historic milestones. She was the first woman to conduct at the Salzburg Festival, where she led the Vienna Philharmonic and cast in a production of Boris Godunov, which met with critical acclaim. She also was one of the few women to have been appointed music director of a leading American symphony orchestra, at Kansas City from 1999 to 2003. Ms. Manson launched her career in 1988 as Music Director of the London-based Mecklenburgh Opera, where over a span of eight years she programmed repertoire ranging from Mozart to 20th-century rarities to commissioned world premieres. This summer, she conducted Philip Glass’ Orphée aux enfers and Haydn’s L’anima del filosofo for Glimmerglass Opera. 
       
During the 2007-08 season, in addition to appearances at Juilliard, where, in April, she returns to conduct the New York premiere of Ned Rorem’s Our Town, Ms. Manson makes her New York City Opera debut conducting the company’s first production of Barber’s Vanessa. In January, she conducts the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra in a concert celebrating the 75th anniversary of the orchestra’s founding; in February, she leads the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra in works by Bartók, Bloch, and a new work by a Canadian composer.

The next appearance of the Juilliard Orchestra is on Wednesday, November 7 at 8 PM with conductor Dennis Russell Davies in Avery Fisher Hall. The program features works by Haydn, Schnittke, and Raskatov. Tickets are $20 and $10 and available beginning October 3 at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office or through CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500. FREE tickets for students and seniors are available only at the Box Office.
      
 Juilliard presents more than 700 dance, drama, and music events annually. During ongoing renovations, a full calendar of events is scheduled. For a complete listing of events, as well as construction updates, go to www.juilliard.edu.

 The Juilliard School established this country’s standard for education in the performing arts, beginning with music in 1905.  In 1951, its Dance Division was established, with combined training in contemporary and ballet technique. Juilliard became part of Lincoln Center in 1968, and added a four-year Drama program. In 2001, Juilliard broke new ground with the addition of its first Jazz Program. More than 800 young artists, from 49 states (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) and 46 foreign countries, attend Juilliard; among its celebrated alumni in all fields are Pina Bausch, Martha Clarke, Van Cliburn, James Conlon, Miles Davis, Renée Fleming, Philip Glass, Kevin Kline, James Levine, David Lindsay-Abaire, Laura Linney, Lar Lubovitch, Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Henry Mancini, Wynton Marsalis, Gregory Mosher, Itzhak Perlman, Leontyne Price, Sara Ramirez, Steve Reich, Richard Rodgers, Neil Sedaka, Leonard Slatkin, Kevin Spacey, Paul Taylor, Robin Williams, Meredith Willson, and many others. For more information, visit Juilliard’s Web site at www.juilliard.edu.