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Thursday, November 15, 2001

By Andrew Druckenbrod, Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic

Two Pittsburgh composers have been awarded three-year Meet the Composer residency grants. Efrain Amaya and R. James Whipple will work with Gateway to the Arts, Renaissance City Winds, Shaler Area School District and WQED-FM.

The Meet the Composer organization was founded in New York in 1974 to bring composers and their communities closer together, buoyed by a grant this year of $140,000 over three years. The composers work with local groups to engender interest and participation in composing.

For their shared project, Amaya and Whipple will not only compose but also coach students in writing music of their own. Both composers are part-time faculty members at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music.

The free kickoff event, involving various performers, is at 7 p.m. Sunday at Glenshaw Presbyterian Church. Information: 412-261-9221.