The First Paul J. Gallagher Memorial Concert: LIVING FORWARD Set for 9/20 at Drew University

On September 20, 2015, at 4pm at The Dorothy Young Center for the Arts in the esteemed Concert Hall at Drew University, Feathered Serpent Productions will present The First Paul J. Gallagher Memorial Concert: LIVING FORWARD.

Half the proceeds from the concert will be used to produce, promote and conserve the art and music of the late Paul J. Gallagher, who, in addition to being a gifted tenor and composer, was the beloved teacher and mentor of hundreds of vocal and composition students. The other half of the concert proceeds will be donated to the Give Forward campaign of Paul's widow Theresa Rowland, whose work and teaching at Studio Yoga in Madison, New Jersey has had a far-reaching impact on the greater community. The Give Forward campaign was established to afford Theresa continued conventional and alternative treatments for cancer.

On a largely volunteer basis, over 30 people from the Tri-state area have combined talents to bring this brilliant production to life. Under the direction of Virginia Johnston, Triad Vocal Ensemble of Maplewood, NJ will sing choral pieces by Dr. Gallagher. Vocalist Ella Ackerman (Chatham, NJ), flutist Martha Cargo (Brooklyn, NY), Cellist Valerie Kuehne (Brooklyn, NY) and violinist Natalia Steinbach (Brooklyn, NY) form a quartet to present SONGS TO THE FOUR DIRECTIONS. Pianist Dan Crisci of Maplewood, NJ, joins Ms. Ackerman in the cabaret aspect of the performance.

Deferring to the delicacy of the specially constructed and highly sensitive acoustical flooring of the concert hall, Ella Ackerman will dance to recordings of Paul Gallagher's beautiful tenor voice accompanied by electronics. Her choreography includes elements of Tai Chi, modern dance, cabaret-style belly dancing and ballet. One piece of particular beauty in the program is SEEN, Paul Gallagher's tribute to a transcendent moment in time, in which he was captivated by the surreal beauty of a water bird in its natural habitat, as light streamed through the sky and reflected in the water. The dance to SEEN is inspired by the artistry of Loie Fuller, a popular American dancer of the late 1800s, who performed regularly with Folies Bergère and throughout opera houses of Europe. To create the imagery described in SEEN, the dance implements a costume comprised of nearly 17 yards of billowing white silk, which moves elegantly and mesmerizingly through the light and air of the concert hall.

Ms. Ackerman will also sing two of Gallagher's art songs as performance art pieces, integrating dance with veils and wings of Isis. The elaborate costumes for the production were designed and created by Debra Lewis (Phillipsburg, NJ) and Ella Ackerman. Lighting and sound will be expertly balanced by Lawrence de Martin of Stamford, CT.

Throughout the concert, images of Dr. Gallagher's visual art will be projected. Gallagher described most of his work as "photo intarsia," a medium wherein he utilized many, tiny, colorful cuttings from nature magazines to create larger, abstract images inspired by nature and wildlife. Many of the images were intended to serve as a backdrop for his opera SIX BLIND MEN AN THE MOON, which premiered at the Karine Theater in New York City in 1998.

Paul J. Gallagher received his M.A. and Ph.D. from SUNY at Buffalo, where he studied composition with Morton Feldman and Lejaren Hiller and voice with Heinz Rehfuss. In 1980 Dr. Gallagher began working exclusively in just intonation using a unique compositional language, which he developed by applying relationships found in the overtone series to the realms of pitch, rhythm and formal design. He created a new musical syntax, which evolved into a more poetic and intuitive interpretation of those relationships. Dr. Gallagher received numerous grants to pursue his work, including a Fellowship Grant in composition from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts and from Meet the Composer. His music was performed in new music festivals internationally.

Feathered Serpent Productions is an entity with a mission to produce, promote and conserve the music and artwork of the late Paul J.Gallagher.

The Dorothy Young Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ. Parking is available on the Drew University campus near the concert hall. For more information, call Feathered Serpent Productions at 973-738-2651. General admission is $30 and $25 for seniors and students with ID. Purchase tickets in advance at www.pauljgallagher.com.

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