Duke University Department of Music: 50 Years of Biddle Gala Concert

Join the Duke Music Department for a grand celebration of our iconic Biddle Music Building
with a gala concert on September 21, 2024, at 7:00 PM, Free Admission.

This special evening will showcase the exceptional talents of our students, faculty, and distinguished
alumni through a rich and diverse program. Our newest faculty member, Colin Fullerton, will perform Blue Ridge Frescos for solo guitar, composed by Duke alumnus Laurence Sherr. Mezzo-soprano Page Stephens and pianist David Heid will present Jeremy Beck’s When You Are Old. Additionally, musicologist and pianist Larry Todd and Duke alumna Katharina Uhde (violin) will bring Schoenberg’s Fantasy to life.

Returning to campus, Nathaniel Maxwell will perform his Piano Quintet, a chamber work
that beautifully blends piano and strings. The esteemed Ciompi Quartet will join forces
with the Larkspur Quartet, an accomplished student string ensemble, for Chiayu Hsu’s
Taiwan Miniatures. The first half will culminate in a performance of the Finale from
Mendelssohn’s Octet featuring the Ciompi Quartet, chamber music students, and alumni
from the Duke Music Department.

After a brief intermission, the Duke Chorale will perform a selection of works by
distinguished alumni composers Paul Leary, Caroline Mallonee, Sidney Boquiren, and Allan
Friedman. The evening will culminate in a grand finale, featuring a collaboration between
the Duke Symphony Orchestra and Duke Opera Theater, performing Penka Kouneva’s
Earth and the Quintet from West Side Story, showcasing the talents of faculty and alumni
soloists.

To commemorate this significant milestone, filmmaker Rodrigo Dorfman is producing a
two-part documentary, and we are delighted to present the premiere of Part One during
the concert.

Following the performance, we invite you to join us in the Biddle Music Building fountain
area, where we will unveil a stunning mural by artist Natalie Robinson, celebrating the
journey and diversity of the Duke Music Department.

This celebration promises to be a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of our music
community and the space that has inspired countless artistic journeys. Don’t miss this
extraordinary evening of music, history, and celebration!

To learn more about the history of the Biddle Music Building check out:
https://music.duke.edu/news/living-space-music-mary-duke-biddle-music-building-turns-
50

We are grateful for the support of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation for this celebration.

This event is also part of the Duke Centennial celebration.