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YourHub.com \\ Denver \\ Stories \\ Kudos & Milestones \\ Awards

Metro State prof among elite jazz composers

On 3/23/2006

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Contributed by: Tracy Williams on 3/23/2006

Last week, Fred Hess left for the first International Jazz Composer's Symposium a mild-mannered coordinator of jazz studies for Metro State - and returned an award-winning jazz composer.

This unique three-day event, held at the University of South Florida, was designed to allow composers, scholars, and students from throughout the country to interact with each other, as well as prominent master artists and industry representatives in a series of lectures, master classes, research presentations, performances, new music reading sessions, and panel discussions.

Hess competed with 140 of the most prestigious jazz composers in the world for the coveted 2006 International Jazz Composers Symposium Award, which was judged by jazz masters such as Bob Brookmeyer, John Clayton and Dave Douglas.

The 140+ submissions were whittled down to 13 before the conference. Hess' piece, Journey to Sentosa - Return, an atonal bebop piece using jazzy rhythms and classical techniques, was among them.

As part of the judging process, selected compositions were performed by Chuck Owen & The Jazz Surge in an open workshop setting along with the guest artist panel.

The guest panel then selected one or more of the new works to receive an additional performance at the final evening concert and a cash prize of $500.

"I submitted my piece and sweated bullets while it was performed by the band," Hess said. "But I was encouraged when - after the piece was performed - the judges said absolutely nothing. They were very blunt with their analysis, so no critique was a very good sign."

Hess won the final round over many much younger musicians.

"I was delighted when Bob Brookmeyer came up to me and said, I like that you have the same color hair as I do!'"

Hess, who has performed with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, received $500 and a certificate from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as part of his award.

So what's next? A world tour? A recording contract, perhaps?

"I'm just happy to have my work recognized and to return to Metro to share my excitement with my students and peers," he said.

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Tracy Williams

Denver , CO

Tracy Williams has posted 10 stories and 0 comments since joining on 10/14/2005. Tracy Williams 's average story rating is 4.33.

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