Ames Town & Gown concert features music written in partnership with kids who have autism
A concert on Sunday will feature music from Denmark, Germany, Argentina and Spain. It will also include unique new music composed in collaboration with children with autism, who are non-verbal.
The concert will feature Danish pianist Francesco Barfoed and mezzo-soprano Megan Moore. It will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Iowa State’s Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall, 300 Union Drive.
Sponsored by Ames Town & Gown Chamber Music Association, the concert will include music from Denmark, German art songs known as lieder, and love songs from Argentinian and Spanish composers.
Another noteworthy portion of the program will be “recently commissioned works composed to texts by non-verbal autistic youth,” according to a news release from Town & Gown.
“We anticipate a wonderful and interesting concert,” said Paula Forrest, artistic director for Ames Town & Gown.
This is the fourth concert in Ames Town & Gown's 73rd season.
Who are Megan Moore and Francesco Barfoed?
Moore is co-founder of the Lynx Project, “which amplifies diverse voices through new song commissions, inclusive concerts, and educational programming,” according to the news release.
Founded five years ago, the Lynx Project’s Amplify series has commissioned more than four hours of original music in collaboration with non-verbal kids with autism.
Moore has performed in Tan Dun’s “Buddha Passion” in Seattle, Modena and Abu Dhabi. She’s appeared at the San Diego Opera, Santa Fe Opera and the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.
Barfoed was born and raised in Copenhagen. He performs in solo as well as in collaborative performances. He performs in European chamber music festivals and is a member of the Wundertrio, which was formed at the Manchester Music Festival in Vermont.
Moore and Barfoed have performed throughout the United States in venues that include the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center.
Together they have received first-place at the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the Copenhagen Lied-Duo Competition, as well as top honors from the Naumburg Foundation.
Appearance will also include a master class
While she’s in Ames, Moore will also hold a master class with Iowa State vocal students, where she will share her talent and love for music.
The master class is free and open to the public, as well.
The class will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in Room 125 of Estes Hall on campus.
What songs are on the concert’s program?
The program will include:
Four songs composed by Franz Schubert
Romance de la Luna, Luna by Miquel Ortega
Carnavalito y Banco Solitario by Yvette Souviron
Three songs by Rued Langgaard
Works set to texts by non-verbal youth with autism by composers Tariq Al-Sabir, Emily Cooley, Travis Reynolds and David Balzun
How can you get tickets to the concert?
Like most Ames Town & Gown concerts, tickets for kids and college students with college ID are free.
Tickets for adults are $30. They can be purchased online at amestownandgown.org. In person, they can be bought at Rieman Music, 327 Main St. #2; Chocolaterie Stam, 230 Main St.; and the ISU Department of Music and Theatre office in Estes Hall, 149 Music Hall.
Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Seating is general admission.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rlawless@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Music written with the help of autistic kids will be in concert Sunday
