PORT TOWNSEND — Clarinetist and composer William O. “Bill” Smith has written new works that will be premiered by the composer alongside works written for the occasion by Seattle composer Huntley Beyer and Slovenian composer Igor Dekleva.
New Music by William O. Smith will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St.
Admission will be by free-will offering, a suggested donation of $15, $20 or $25. Children age 18 and younger will be admitted free.
World premieres by Smith, including “Session” for clarinet, flute and violin, “Jazz Set” for flute and violin and “Five Pages” for solo violin will be complemented by the world premieres of “It’s Personal” by Huntley Beyer and “Nostalgic Fantasy” by Igor Dekleva.
Smith recently turned 92 and is well known not only to Northwest audiences but to jazz fans and clarinetists around the world.
A founding member of the Dave Brubeck Octet, Smith pioneered the use of contemporary techniques on clarinet in the 1960s and has continued to experiment with them throughout his life, both in his jazz improvisation and classical composition.
Smith was professor of clarinet, composition and contemporary music at the University of Washington for 30 years.
For more information, see www.salishseafestival.org/newmusic or call St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 360-385-0770.
