ASU hosts evening with world-renowned composer Eric Whitacre

World-renowned composer Eric Whitacre will speak at ASU in an informal question and answer session, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 24, in the Evelyn Smith Music Theatre in the School of Music on the Tempe campus.

The evening will open with Whitacre’s “She Weeps Over Rahoon,“ performed by the ASU Women’s Chorus under the direction of Ashley Conway, ASU School of Music doctor of musical arts in music (conducting) student. Following the performance, Whitacre will discuss the piece and David Schildkret, School of Music professor and director of choral activities, will moderate a question and answer session.

“Light & Gold,” Whitacre’s first recording, for which he served as both composer and conductor, won a Grammy award in 2012. Within a week of its release, it was the No. 1 classical recording throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Whitacre has become one of the most popular composers writing choral music today, with one of the most active online fan bases of any living composer.

“Choirs all over the world sing and love his music,” Schildkret says. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for ASU and Phoenix.”

Whitacre is currently the composer in residence at the University of Cambridge’s Sidney Sussex College, in the U.K. "I am thrilled to have the chance to meet some of the extraordinary musicians from in and around Phoenix, hosted by the exceptional team at ASU," he says.

The event is free, but advance tickets are required. Tickets are available for pick up in person at the ASU Herberger Institute Box Office, Nelson Fine Arts Center (limit two per person).

For more information, contact David Schildkret, director of choral activities at 480-965-3706 or david.schildkret@asu.edu.

To learn more about Whitacre, visit ericwhitacre.com