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Date 3-16-06
Contact Chinika Hood 601.266.5568
Hattiesburg—University
of Southern Mississippi composer-in-residence Luigi Zaninelli will
entertain a packed theater when his Snow White opera hits
one of the world’s most famous opera houses, the Teatro del Maggio
Musicale in Florence, Italy, March 19-21. And sitting on the front
row will be apprentice and friend David McIntyre, who leaves for
Italy today.
McIntyre, an
accomplished pianist/composer, met his mentor at age 18 while studying
at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. The two crossed
paths in September 1969 during McIntyre’s first harmony class, and
McIntyre described his first encounter with the Raritan, N.J., native
as life changing.
“He was an unconventional teacher by the standards I was used to
and I loved it. He constantly challenged the status quo and naturally
thought much more like a composer than a theorist; this was a breath
of fresh air to me,” said McIntyre, who at age 4 delighted in improvising
pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, and a few of his own for his parents.
“He opened horizons to me in such a way that made me realize that
although I had come to the university as a piano major, I really
wanted to be a composer, as it had always been my childhood dream.”
McIntyre remained
Zaninelli’s pupil for three years before graduating from the University
of Calgary in 1973. Coincidentally, it was the same year that Zaninelli
left the university to join the faculty at Southern Miss. Convinced
Zaninelli was a musical genius, McIntyre felt compelled to follow
the composer he believed to be the most important mentor of his
musical life.
“His mind never stops; he is constantly analyzing, proposing, challenging,
playing,” said McIntyre. “Even now over 30 years later, a conversation
with him is unfailingly engaging. This electricity from him always
stimulates my desire to keep creating music. Hardly a day goes by
that I don't consciously draw on some gem gleaned from my association
with Luigi.”
McIntyre studied with Zaninelli at Southern Miss for two years before
obtaining his master’s degree in music. He then moved to Regina,
Saskatchewan, Canada, where he taught at the Canadian Bible College
for 19 years before joining the University of Regina for the next
five years. He would spend three of those years as composer-in-residence
for the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
It wasn’t until 1982 that he and Zaninelli would see each other
again, but the two somehow managed to remain the best of friends.
During their time apart, McIntyre, along with a violinist and clarinetist,
formed a group called Contrasts, which performed with singers, dancers
and poets across Canada.
The now 55-year-old is currently working on a violin concerto for
the 100th anniversary of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, as well
as several chamber pieces. He had the honor of writing the orchestral
fanfare for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth to Saskatchewan’s centennial
celebrations last June.
McIntyre said
his success stems from modeling his career after Zaninelli, who
he describes as a modest perfectionist. “When I worked with him,
he rarely spoke about his own work, but about the big picture,”
said McIntyre. “He is a major American composer who writes music
of great beauty, depth, sensitivity and spirit.”
Luigi Zaninelli
left for Italy on Tuesday to supervise the European premiere of
his opera Snow White, based on the fairy tale by the Brothers
Grimm. The production is produced and sponsored by il Teatro del
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Syracuse University at Florence and
Southern Miss. Sung in English with Italian sub-titles, the company
will present nine performances with eight of those already sold
out.
Zaninelli has
received many awards, including a Steinway Prize, yearly awards
from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP),
and is the first five-time recipient of the Mississippi Institute
of Arts and Letters Music Award. He has more than 300 published
works to his credit and has received commissions to compose for
virtually every music genre.
Click to enlarge
David McIntyre
Last updated:
03/20/06
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