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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN ( March 20, 2006 ) — The Milligan College orchestra will feature the world premiere of a composition by internationally renowned composer Kenton Coe at its spring concert on Friday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Seeger Chapel on the Milligan campus.
Titled, “Genesis,” the composition presents the creation of the world through text and music and was commissioned by Dr. Kellie Brown, assistant professor of music and director of the Milligan orchestra.
The work will feature strings, organ and two narrators — Richard Major, Milligan chair of performing, visual and communicative arts and professor of theatre, and Dr. Mark Matson , Milligan academic dean and professor of Bible.
“The Milligan College orchestra has presented several world premieres in the past and we are thrilled to present this marvelous piece from Kenton Coe,” said Brown, who chairs the music area at Milligan. “The Tri-Cities are blessed to have a composer of his talent in our area.”
Brown commissioned “Genesis” from Coe in 2005. It is sponsored by the Milligan chapter of the Music Educators National Conference.
A native of Johnson City, Tenn., Coe began his musical training at the Cadek Conservatory in Chattanooga and holds a degree in music from Yale University. He worked privately for three years in Paris at the Paris Conservatory of Music, as well as the Fontainebleau School. Coe has composed several acclaimed works and has had his work performed, or commissioned, by numerous acclaimed operatic groups and orchestras around the world.
“I was delighted at the request and challenge to compose a work for Milligan,” said Coe. “I love writing for strings and the idea of including organ and narration seemed to be a great fit for the Milligan orchestra.”
The concert will also feature works by composers Albinoni, Ravel, Respighi and Mark O’Connor. Local cellists Jim Benelisha and Cheryl Fitzgerald will be featured in Vivaldi’s composition, “Concerto for Two Cellos.”
The concert is free and open to the public.
For more information contact Dr. Kellie Brown at 423.461.8978, or KBrown@milligan.edu.