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Belmar, NJ, March 30, 2009 - The Belmar Arts Council (BAC) is pleased to present Awakenings, a benefit concert by the young composers of Westminster Choir College (WCC) of Rider University. Enjoy the lush sounds of spring as your senses "awaken" to music for string quartet, solo piano and choral ensemble. The program will be presented on Sunday, April 26 at 3PM at the Belmar Elementary School, 1101 Main Street in Belmar, NJ.

The Bachelor of Music Degree in Theory/Composition is one of six areas of study at Westminster Choir College, which also offers a Master of Music in Composition. All composition majors are expected to write works for soloists, chamber ensembles, and large wind or orchestral ensembles. Awakenings will feature new works in a variety of genres and showcase Westminster's exceptional young talent. Patrice Malone, from Manasquan NJ, is an Arts Administration Intern at the BAC as well as a third year Theory/Composition Major at WCC. Malone has organized this event in celebration of her time spent at both WCC and BAC. Two of her compositions for string quartet, Time and Awaken, will be premiered at the Awakenings Concert.

Third-year-student David Zas, from Parlin, NJ, is a double major in Theory/Composition and Music Education. Under the guidance of Dr. Joel Phillips, Zas has produced his first composition for a string quartet, "I am very grateful to the WCC program and Patrice for providing opportunities to help artists grow musically. In my piece, I explore many different techniques uniquely suited for a string ensemble, such as the Bartok pizzacati."

Nathan Jones, a second year graduate student, has a 2007 Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Oklahoma State University, where he specialized in percussion and piano. Already an accomplished composer, Jones has had many pieces performed and published. His most recent work, There Will be Rest, will be premiered by the Westminster Schola Choir on April 18, 2009.

The April 26 Awakenings Concert at Belmar Elementary School Auditorium will debut works for string quartet by Karol Nowicki, Mike Fili, Dan Halbstein, and Robert Pegg, along with the other young composers. Following the concert, there will be a reception to meet the writers and musicians, with door prizes and 50/50. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Belmar Arts Council's education and outreach programs.

Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. For tickets and further information about this event, please visit the BAC website at www.belmararts.org.

Dues, donations and grants fund the Belmar Arts Council's programs. BAC's events are made possible in part by the Monmouth County Arts Council through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.

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Editors note:

The BAC logo and this release in Word and HTML format are available at
http://www.namc-hitech.com/bac

For additional information:
Belmar Arts Council
http://www.belmararts.org