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Thursday, January 13, 2011

KEAN CONCERT ARTIST PROGRAM ANNOUNCES NEW APPOINTMENT

concert artists - Dr Ripper

Dr. João Guilherme Ripper: 2011-2012 Artist Composer-in-Residence at Kean University Concert Artist Program

In this new capacity, Dr. Ripper will write original works especially for the Concert Artists series performed at the recently restored Gene and Shelly Enlow Recital Hall on Kean University’s East Campus. His compositions will include a string quintet and a piano quintet, among other works making their debuts in upcoming seasons.

Dr. Ripper is expected to attend performances of his works, providing the opportunity for audience, artists and performers to interact with the composer during the 2011-2012 Concert Artist Series.

The Concert Artist Series is a fully professional chamber music program performed by internationally renowned musicians who also serve as faculty at Kean University. The Series offers 12-15 productions a year including a jazz program on the Main and East campuses.

Dr. Ripper was born in Rio de Janeiro and has worked there since 2004 as Director of Sala Cecília Meireles, a leading concert hall. He is former Dean of the School of Music of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where he served previously as a faculty member in composition and Director of Graduate Programs. Dr. Ripper has guest-conducted many of Brazil’s noted orchestras. His compositions, including operas, orchestral and chamber works, songs and piano pieces, have been performed in concert halls throughout Brazil and abroad.

His appointment as Kean University concert artist composer-in-residence follows those of Swiss-American Frank Ezra Levy, 2008-2009; fellow Brazilian Liduino Pitombeira, 2009-2010; and Mexican-American and Juilliard Faculty member Samuel Zyman, 2010-2011.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, boasting a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment, offering more than 50 undergraduate degrees and more than 45 options leading to a master’s degree, doctorate, professional diploma and/or state certification(s). Five undergraduate colleges and the Nathan Weiss Graduate College now serve more than 15,000 students.