UMKC Conservatory composition professor James Mobberley and professional resident ensemble Marimba Yajalón traveled to Prague in the Czech Republic in March, 1997 to perform and record with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. They performed Mobberley's new Concerto for Marimba (eight hands) and Orchestra, which was premiered in three February, 1997 subscription concerts with the Kansas City Symphony. This concerto was funded through a major grant from Meet the Composer of New York City.
Conductor Paul Freeman led the performances and recording, which will be with the Fanfare Record Co. of Canada. UMKC Professor Richard Cass will also be traveled to Prague to record James Mobberley's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, written for Cass in 1994 and premiered by him with William McGlaughlin conducting the Kansas City Symphony. Professor Cass has already worked with the Czech Radio Orchestra, recording a Beethoven Concerto with them in fall, 1996.
Marimba Yajalón is a quartet which plays on a large marimba--a unique type of xylophone which is closely identified with the culture and peoples of southernmost Mexico and northern Central America. This ensemble has toured Mexico on numerous occasions, all of which were underwritten by Mexican governmental agencies. Group director and founder is Dr. Laurence Kaptain, professor of percussion at the Conservatory and a former Fulbright Scholar to Mexico.
Dr. James Mobberley is a highly recognized composer having received major awards such as a Guggenheim Fellowship, Rome Prize Fellowship, a Composer's Fellowship from the NEA, the Lee Ettleson Award, and the International Composers Competition for the Polish Section-ISCM, and others.
Funding for the recording and travel costs for both recording projects has been provided by the UMKC Office of Research Administration's Research Incentive Fund, the UMKC International Travel Fund, and the Conservatory of Music.
For further information contact:
James Mobberley 816-235-2968 Laurence Kaptain 816-235-2950