Program Launches with Concerts at Encinitas Community/Senior Center

Encinitas, CA.Either/Or Music Ensemble of New York City has announced plans to present two concerts of innovative, cutting-edge new music on the West Coast in collaboration with the Harry and Alice Eiler Foundation of Encinitas.  Richard Carrick, founder and artistic director of Either/Or, comments, "This is an important outgrowth for the ensemble in its long term goal to present concerts of contemporary chamber music across the continent.    It is our intent to offer high caliber performances of important works of music that are new or rarely played."  The music ensemble focuses on presenting the compositions of living composers. "Either/Or is making a splash with superb programming etched by some of the best musicians. This is a hot new group to watch," stated Bruce Hodges, music critic with Music Web.UK.

The program kicks off on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 at 3:00pm, with Brazilian concert pianist Luciane Cardassi in an hour-long recital of new music-including two world premieres-by composers from diverse areas of the World. Miss Cardassi's program will include: In a Landscape (1994) by American John Cage; Légèreté (2001) by French-American Richard Carrick; Noturno papa Chopin (1999) by Brazilian Composer Antonio Cunha; Old and Lost Rivers (1986) by American Tobias Picker, and two premieres, Caprice (2006) by local composer Harry Eiler and Encinitas Variations (2006) by British Composer Hywel Davies.  Miss Cardassi is an established concert musician and a graduate of UCSD, where she currently teaches Music Theory and Piano.  She was a recent guest artist with the La Jolla Symphony.

On November 1, 2006 at 7:30pm, Richard Carrick, pianist & composer, and Christopher Otto, violinist, will present a concert of intriguing and captivating music with one world and two west coast premieres, including, Riconoscenza (1985) by the grandfather of American Modernism, Elliot Carter; A new work (2006) by Richard Carrick, and a repeat of his tour-de-force for violin, in flow (2006) which was showcased at the prestigious Musikinstitute in Darmstadt, Germany in August.   Lied (1993) by Austrian Beat Furrer; and the West Coast Premiere of Oligosono by Elliot Sharp (downtown New York composer/improviser) will round out the program. "These selections place demands upon the artists and instruments that ensure an evening of engrossing new music" stated Harry Eiler. "Dr. Carrick has an international reputation as composer, pianist and multi-media artist who has appeared in concerts and festivals throughout the US, Europe and Canada."  Violinist/composer Christopher Otto has studied with some of the outstanding composers of today in perfecting his performance style and is a member of a new string quartet that has received kudos from as far away as New Zealand.

Both concerts are presented free of charge. Pre-performance lectures will be given by local lecturer and composer, Dr. Harry Eiler, one hour before each concert . A reception follows the Wednesday night program. Additional concert information may be found at www.eitherormusic.org. The Encinitas Community and Senior Center is located at 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas, Ca 92024. Contact the Center at (760) 943-2250.

The concerts are made possible by grants from the Harry & Alice Eiler Foundation and the City of Encinitas Community Grant Program. "Concert programming of this quality is exactly what city leaders and the arts community are looking for," stated Jim Gilliam, Arts Administrator for the City of Encinitas. "It is our hope that a broad public interest develops that could warrant an expansion to a multi-disciplinary festival of the arts." Regarding future concert programs, Harry Eiler stated, "it is likely that the collaboration between Either/Or, the Eiler Foundation and the City could develop into a series of world-class recitals and ensemble concerts presented each year in Encinitas."
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It is not widely known that Encinitas already has a rich heritage in contemporary music. Harry Partch (1901-1974), the great American innovator in contemporary music, lived his last decade in Encinitas and Israeli national Chaya Czernowin composed her latest work, completing an unfinished opera by Mozart, Zaide/Adama, while residing in Encinitas before moving to Vienna for a teaching position. Eiler went on to say, "it is within this frame of reference that Encinitas intends to join its neighboring cities who present world-class annual music festivals and celebrations of music."

For additional information on Either/Or Music Ensemble, visit: eitherormusic.org. For information on Dr. Eiler or the Eiler Foundation, visit: www.harryeiler.com or www.eilerfoundation.org.