The Athena Festival brought many new faces to Murray State’s campus this week and ignited a love and appreciation for classical music and the women behind it.
The festival, sponsored by the Murray State department of music, included three days of lecture sessions, recitals and concerts.
Beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 26, the public was invited to attend these events at no cost. Students, faculty and community members all shared the week with exciting names in the classical music industry. Featured composers this year included Gwyneth Walker, Earlene Rentz, Anna De Foe and Vera Ivanova. These women shared their experience in the music industry with the audience members through performances, lectures and stories.
“Gwyneth Walker is the featured composer for the festival,” said Tana Field, coordinator of the Athena Festival. “She spoke to festival attendees and lead master classes as well. She also had her pieces featured in performances.”
In addition to Walker, the community members interacted with this year’s “Meet the Composer,” Rentz. She spoke to local elementary children and their directors.
Composers De Foe and Ivanova won the international composition competitions hosted by the festival.
Other groups such as the Murray State Concert Choir, Jazz Orchestra and Faculty Chamber Music ensembles performed as well. These groups highlighted the works of the featured composers in unison with the theme of the festival.
Every other year, when the festival is held, the department of music selects a theme which serves as inspiration for the presentations and selects the featured composers. This year, the theme was “Breaking Barriers – Finding Her Own Voice.”
“The event is important because it provides Murray State and the community the opportunity to interact with and learn from established female composers,” she said. “It also allows us to be exposed to current research in women in music. My favorite part of the event is meeting and learning from a variety of scholars, musicians and successful composers.”
Story by Hunter Harrell, Staff writer.