MAC concert to be professor\'s debut

The IU Concert Orchestra, under the helm of conductor David Effron, will perform its first concert this year at 8 p.m. today at the the Musical Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.\nThe concert will consist of three pieces: Symphony No. 1 by Claude Baker, Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor by Prokofiev and Symphony No. 5 by Mendellsohn.\n"The most important aspect of this concert is the Indiana premiere of Prof. Baker's Symphony No. 1," Effron said. \nClaude Baker, a composition professor, has written numerous orchestral works but considers Symphony No. 1 to be his first symphony. \n"The symphony is a nonvocal commentary on four poems by Walt Whitman. Not only do I try to capture the general moods of the poems, but I also try to parallel the structure of the poems in my music," Baker said\nHe emphasized the fact that as he was reading the poems, he came up with certain musical thoughts that reflected them. \n"Baker's piece has incredible levels of emotion. It has incredible dramatic qualities and exemplifies the widespread possibilities of orchestral color," Effron said.\nThe second piece of music of the evening will be Prokofiev's Concerto No. 2 in G Minor. It will include graduate student Winston Choi, who will play along with the orchestra on the piano. The piece consists of four movements.\n"The first movement is the biggest cadenza (only the pianist performs) ever written in piano literature. It really tests your endurance and stamina," Choi said.\nChoi, who is a masters student in piano performance, established himself as one of IU's best pianists when he won the Penderecki prize in Poland last September for the best piano soloist. While he has won numerous national contests, the Penderecki Prize was his first international accomplishment. \nThe second movement of the concert is the fastest movement in the concerto while the third, in the words of Choi, "is like a march with a tremendous amount of rhythmic energy." \n"In the fourth movement I move my arms quicker than I've ever moved them before. I play ridiculously fast here," he said.\nEffron agreed that the music is difficult but said it shows off the performers' abilities.\n"Prokofiev's music has barbaric qualities and yet exhibits incredible technical prowess," said Effron.\nThe last piece of the evening will be Mendellsohn's Symphony No. 5 also known as the Reformation Symphony. The piece was written in 1829, which was actually his second symphony to be written, but was performed in 1868 as the fifth symphony. \n"Mendellsohn is a genius on the scale of Mozart," said Ross Ewing, an undergraduate in piano performance. "His music is very restrained and has a refined sense of beauty."\n"The piece was written for the three hundredth anniversary of the Auchsburg Doctrine," Effron said. The Auchsburg Doctrine was a statement of religious belief written during the sixteenth century.\n"All the pieces are extremely challenging. I admire Winston and the orchestra. ... I have a lot admiration for anyone who can play this music," Effron said with a smile.