The Fall 2009 concert series at Columbia University’s Italian Academy for Advanced Studies will present three recitals by leading proponents of contemporary music.
December 2, Talea Ensemble, Alex Lipowski, percussion
With Steve Beck, piano
Philippe Hurel: Tombeau in Memoriam G. Grisey
Pierluigi Billone: Mani.Mono
Luca Francesconi: Mambo
Brian Ferneyhough: Bone Alphabet
Gianluca Verlingieri: (New work) *premiere
An advocate of contemporary music, percussionist Alex Lipowski has performed in ensembles such as the Second Instrumental Unit, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Wet Ink Ensemble, Janus Trio, Argento Ensemble, is a co-director of the Talea Ensemble, and the newest member of the Timetable Percussion Trio. He has been seen on concert stages throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. As a soloist and chamber musician he has premiered works by Denisov, Zorn, Malpica, and Lunsqui. Other recent collaborations include working with the Columbia Composers Ensemble and the Latin American composers group, altaVoz. While on tour with the East Coast Composers Ensemble in 2007, Lipowski presented guest lectures at the University of Virginia Commonwealth and a lecture on the music of Georges Aperghis at Denver State College. In the past, Lipowski has served as the director of the Juilliard Pierrot Ensemble and Duo Maintenant with whom he commissioned works extensively for french horn and percussion. In 2006, he was featured with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble on NPR's Performance Today. During the summer of 2007 he toured with Pierre Boulez through Europe and then to Japan performing Boulez's work, sur Incises. During the same summer he served as Artist-Faculty at the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea. He has recorded works by Alexandre Lunsqui with the Argento Ensemble and can be heard on the Living Artists Label with the Talea Ensemble.