Slay and Associates St. Louis Public Relations (PR) and Marketing Communications » Client Announcements

Four Local Couples to be Honored at the Inaugural ‘St. Louis Celebrates Strong Marriage and Community

akordus — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:49:13 +0000

For Immediate Release:

ST. LOUIS - August 23, 2010

Four local couples, including athletes and successful businesspeople, will be honored for their contributions to the community through their strong marital relationships at the inaugural ‘St. Louis Celebrates Strong Marriage and Community’ event. The celebration, which will be held Thursday, September 16, 2010 at the historic Magic Chef Mansion, 3400 Russell Blvd. in St. Louis, is supported by St. Louis Healthy Families, a local non-profit agency.

Honorees include baseball Hall of Fame member and former St. Louis Cardinal great Lou Brock and his wife Jacqueline, former St. Louis Ram and NFL football player Aeneas Williams and his wife Tracy, attorney Donald Carmody and his wife Pat, and businessman Kevin Short and his wife Patti.

The event will recognize remarkable leaders who have received numerous professional, athletic and other public awards on their own but, for the first time, are being honored as couples. They continue to make a significant impact on our community as a result of their long-standing, healthy marriages.

Tickets for the event are $50 per person, which includes an hors d’oeuvre reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/SLHF2 or call 314-361-1222. All proceeds will benefit St. Louis Healthy Families, promoting positive relationship skills that lead to stronger marriages and communities.

“Healthy relationships lead to stronger families that in turn lead to stronger communities,” said Bridget Brennan, founder and executive director of St. Louis Healthy Families. “These four couples epitomize the selflessness, devotion and commitment on a daily basis that strengthen marriages and, by extension, make stronger the commitment of an entire community. We are delighted to honor them at this inaugural celebration of the legal and spiritual ties of marriage.”

Lou and Jacqueline Brock have been married for many blissful years. The retired Hall of Fame baseball star and his wife both are now ordained ministers who serve their neighborhood through their ministry and community involvement.

Former football star Aeneas Williams spent several years in the National Football League, including four seasons with the St. Louis Rams, participating with them in the 2001 Super Bowl. Now retired from his illustrious football career, Aeneas and his wife Tracy are dedicated to raising their four children and enriching their ministry.

Donald Carmody is a founding partner of the successful law firm Carmody MacDonald P.C. and a practicing attorney since 1967. Don and his wife Pat have achieved similar success in their marriage. Both are active members of several associations and boards.

Kevin Short is managing partner and chief executive officer for Clayton Capital Partners. He and his wife Patti are dedicated to the cause of high-quality education for children from low-income families. Both Kevin and Patti serve on the boards of several non-profit organizations.

St. Louis Healthy Families was founded in 2004 as the St. Louis Healthy Marriage Coalition. In April 2010 its name was changed to St. Louis Healthy Families to better reflect the future mission and vision of the agency. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, St. Louis Healthy Families aims to support, establish and sustain healthy families and relationships in the greater St. Louis area through education, information and outreach.

For more information contact:
Laura Slay,
Slay & Associates
314-504-0081 or lslay@slayandassociates.com

St. Louis Healthy Families coordinates community-wide education efforts that support the development of essential relationship skills, including effective communication and conflict resolution. Its programs and services are made available to adults and teens throughout the St. Louis area through its coalition grant partners at very little or no cost. For more information, call 314-361-1222 or visit www.slhmc.org.

Be social with us!

St. Louis Healthy Marriage Coalition on KPLR Noon News Show

A Fresh Way to Look at Improving Africa

akordus — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:54:31 +0000

Dear Friends,

As you may know, Laura has been very involved with MicroFinancing Partners in Africa since its founding. As we celebrate the organization’s 5th anniversary, Slay & Associates is pleased to announce a fresh look!

MPA has a new logo (see above) and a new website to go with it. Check it out atwww.microfinancingafrica.org and browse through the many new features.

In addition to providing all you would ever want to know About MPA, the website has an all-new Donations Market page, to easily help fund hope, and an up-to-date Eventspage, so you don’t miss any of the fun.

The website also features stories about People Who Inspire Us. Right now, several partners from Jamii Bora and Caritas MADDO are highlighted. Hopefully these stories will give you a better insight and personal connection to the amazing mission MPA supports.

We hope you enjoy the new website!

Sincerely,

Laura Slay & Your Friends at MicroFinancing Partners in Africa

Microfinancing Partners in Africa is a 501c(3) that provides grants for the strengthening and expansion of microfinancing programs. The resources are used to empower Africa’s most destitute individuals to lift themselves out of poverty with dignity through access to financial services and education. MPA and its supporters seek to completely eradicate extreme poverty in Africa to allow every person their fundamental right to direct their own future. More information can be obtained on their website or by contacting Sister Toni Temporiti at 314-776-1319 or mpainformation@gmail.com.

Microfinancing Partners in Africa to Hold Annual Fundraising Gala

Top Chefs From Around the U.S. To Compete, Demo & Prepare Dinner During Dr. Brownstone’s Sweet Summer Luv Luv Festival & BBQ Cook Off

akordus — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:58:16 +0000

In what is sure to be one of Missouri’s most creative and enticing annual summer events, Overlook Farm in Clarksville will hold a three-day BBQ festival, with 10 professional teams and 10 amateur teams competing for cash and prizes in a barbecue competition. Overlook Farm’s Executive Chef, Tim Grandinetti, also is bringing in five of the country’s leading chefs and BBQ aficionados to compete, demonstrate and prepare outstanding meals the weekend of Aug. 6, 7 and 8, 2010.

Overlook Farm, home to two bed and breakfasts, a seasonally driven restaurant, retail store and gardens overflowing with vegetables, berries, orchards and herbs has won acclaim recently for its dedication to luxury accommodations and farm-to-table sourcing of local ingredients.

The barbecue competition will be held Saturday, Aug. 7. Dr. Brownstone is Grandinetti’s BBQ alter ego. Amateurs who want to compete should call 573-242-3838. Dr. Bownstone’s award winning barbecue will be available all day on Saturday. In addition, the five distinguished chefs will hold free open-to-the-public culinary/BBQ demonstrations throughout the day Saturday.

• 11:15 a.m., Joseph Lerner of Hickory, N.C., executive chef and food service director of Bermuda Village in Winston-Salem, N.C.

• 12:45 p.m., Mark Beaupre of Orlando, Fla., is the director of food and beverage and is executive chef at the JW Marriott Orlando, Great Lakes.

• 1:30 p.m., Debbie Gold of Kansas City, who has been featured in numerous articles and was named “Chef to Watch,” by Esquire Magazine.

• 2:15 p.m., Grady Spears of Fort Worth, Texas, an author of six cookbooks who has been featured on Good Morning America and The Today Show.

• 3:45 p.m. Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe of Chicago, who has been featured on the Food Network, is the author of five BBQ cookbooks and writes the “Ask Dr. BBQ” column for Fiery Foods and BBQ magazine.

Festivities kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 6, and end with a 1:00 p.m. brunch on Sunday. There will be live music each day. To learn more about all the exciting weekend activities and to take a peak at the menus, click here.

For those looking to stay overnight, the exquisite inns are an easy walk from all the festivities: www.overlookfarmmo.com/accommodations.

(Photo Left to Right: Grady Spears, Joesph Lerner, Mark Beaupre, Debbie Gold, Ray Lampe and Timothy Grandinetti. For full versions of the individual photos, click here to download the zip file.)

Overlook Farm

Perched atop one of the highest points along the majestic Mississippi River and winding down to the scenic Great River Road, lies one of the country’s most unique and attractive travel destinations, Overlook Farm in Clarksville, Missouri. With its collection of luxury inns, farm-to-table restaurant and lush, bountiful orchards and gardens, Overlook Farm is an oasis tucked among the rolling hills and Mississippi River, just one hour north of St. Louis.

The property has been in the family of Proprietor, Nathalie Pettus for over 150 years, and was part of her great grandfather’s acquisition during the Spanish land grant in the early ninteenth century. Nathalie has recreated the elegance of a time past with modern day indulgences through the meticulous renovation of some of the oldest residences in the state. At the same time, she has partnered with area growers to bring back the farming heritage of the region.

For more information visit: www.overlookfarmmo.com.

First Annual Dr. Brownstone’s Sweet Summer Luv Luv Festival & BBQ Cook Off

Feast Magazine Brings Fresh Vision and Established Authority to the Table

akordus — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:25:52 +0000

ST. LOUIS, May 19, 2010 – Lee Enterprises announces the launch of its new culinary publication, Feast magazine, which will debut with an August 2010 issue date.

Feast is a broad-based, monthly culinary magazine that celebrates St. Louis’ food culture. Its content is a reflection of how people engage with food in their everyday lives. Readers can expect great recipes, restaurant recommendations and trend reporting, but will also turn to Feast for coverage of all aspects of food and cooking, including products, design and lifestyle.

Feast will debut with a circulation of 70,000, and will be free at over 500 locations in the St. Louis region, including Illinois. Catherine Neville, co-founder and former editor of Sauce Magazine, will serve as publisher. Brandi Wills is on board as Feast’s managing editor.

“I am really excited about the breadth of culinary coverage this magazine offers,” said Neville. “It has a national level culinary theme with an emphasis on the St. Louis food scene. Our content will have relevance to our readers’ everyday lives in a way that is accessible and inspiring and makes good food a part of each day.”

The print magazine is the backbone of the Feast Media brand and will be accompanied by a robust online presence at feaststl.com. The site offers continuously updated, local culinary coverage including expanded stories from the print magazine and original content produced exclusively for an online readership, including a rich video library and interactive photo slideshows. Feast will directly engage with the public by hosting culinary events, experiences and classes. In addition, Feast will greatly utilize the social networks Facebook and Twitter to connect with its readership.

Kevin Mowbray, president and publisher of the Lee-owned St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said, “We are proud to have Feast in the Lee family of publications. We anticipate it will find great success in St. Louis and beyond.”

Read it in the news:

STL Today.com – Off the Menu

Riverfront Times

St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Business Section

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Feast Media is a division of Lee Enterprises, a leading provider of local news, information and advertising in primarily midsize markets, with 49 daily newspapers and a joint interest in four others, online sites and 300 specialty publications in 23 states. Lee’s newspapers have circulation of 1.4 million daily and 1.7 million Sunday, reaching nearly four million readers daily. Lee’s online sites attract nearly 16 million unique visits monthly, and Lee’s weekly publications have distribution of four million households. Lee’s markets include St. Louis, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Madison, Wis.; Davenport, Iowa; Billings, Mont.; Bloomington, Ill.; and Tucson, Ariz. Lee stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LEE. For more information about Lee, please visit www.lee.net.

Catherine Neville Joins Lee St. Louis Niche Division

Tickets now on sale for inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival

akordus — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:29:56 +0000

Tickets now on sale for inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival to be held July 12 –18 in Columbia, MO. Event will feature world premieres of new works by eight emerging composers, performed by the acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound.

COLUMBIA, MO – Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival, which will be held Monday, July 12 through Sunday, July 18 in Columbia, MO.

The weeklong series of events will include four public concerts, culminating in the world premieres of new works written by eight international composers and performed by the acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, July 18 in the newly renovated Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts (MTCA), 203 S. Ninth St. in downtown Columbia.

Other public performances at the MTCA will include the festival’s opening concert by Alarm Will Sound at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 12; a solo performance by pianist and resident performing artist Lisa Moore at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 13; and “Composers That Rock,” a chamber music concert featuring Moore and Maestro Kirk Trevor at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15.

More than 120 composers, representing countries including the People’s Republic of China, France, Spain, Turkey, Korea, Mexico and the United States, submitted composition portfolios to participate in the festival. Eight were selected to represent a cross-section of the diverse landscape of music being created today. They are:

Francisco Cortes-Alvarez, who was born in Mexico City and currently is studying music at Indiana University;

Christopher Dietz, a Milwaukee native who is a visiting assistant professor at the Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, OH;

Paul Dooley, a Californian and doctoral student at the University of Michigan;

Moon Young Ha, a native of Seoul, South Korea who recently completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign;

Edie Hill, who lives in Minneapolis and is composer-in-residence for The Schubert Club in St. Paul;

Amy Beth Kirsten, a former Chicagoan now living in New Haven, CT;

Jeremy Podgursky, born in Louisville, KY and now a doctoral fellow at Indiana University; and

Zhou Juan, a native of Sichuan, China who recently completed coursework for her doctorate in music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Click here for full bios of the composers.

During the festival the eight composers will receive private composition lessons from guest composers Martin Bresnick, recipient of the first Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and Derek Bermel, composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, they will take part in workshops with Alarm Will Sound, participate in master classes and receive a professional live recording of their work.

The Inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival is part of the Mizzou New Music Initiative, a diverse array of programs launched by the University of Missouri’s School of Music intended to position the school as a leading center for music composition and new music. The initiative is a direct result of a $1 million donation by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation led by Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. Their vision is to create an incubator for the composition and performance of new music, and to showcase Missouri as a center for the music of tomorrow.

“The talent of these new composers is staggering,” said Dr. Sinquefield. “Mixing their talent at the festival with major composers Bresnick and Bermel and Alarm Will Sound will be a crazy, wonderful event. I cannot wait for the resulting concert. This is a concert that cannot be missed. And for the participants, this will be a week they will never forget. Their combined talent is overwhelming. Anyone interested in development of American composition needs to come.”

The participating composers were selected through a portfolio application process by Dr. Stefan Freund, associate professor of music theory and composition, and Dr. W. Thomas McKenney, professor of music theory and composition, electronic music, who both teach at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Music and are resident composers for the festival. The selected composers each will create a new work up to nine minutes long for Alarm Will Sound’s complete instrumentation, which can be viewed at www.alarmwillsound.com.

Festival passes good for admission to all four concerts are on sale for $35 for adults, $20 for students. Single tickets are priced at $10 for adults, $5 for students for the concerts on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; and $15 for adults, $10 for students for the final concert on Sunday. Tickets can be charged by phone by calling the MTCA box office at 573-875-0600 or purchased online. (There is a $2 per ticket fee for online purchases; phone purchases will not be charged a fee.)

Click here for a complete listing of the Mizzou New Music Summer Festival events. The programs of the Mizzou New Music Initiative have been made possible through the generous support of the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. The City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs also provided financial assistance for the Mizzou New Music Festival.

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The Mizzou New Music Initiative brings together a diverse array of programs intended to position the University of Missouri School of Music as a leading center in the areas of composition and new music. The Initiative is the direct result of the generous support of Dr. Jeanne and Mr. Rex Sinquefield, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. The Sinquefields’ vision is to create an incubator for the composition and performance of new music, and to position Missouri as a major center for the music of tomorrow.

Eight of the Best New American Composers Selected for Inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival July 12-18

University of Missouri New Music Ensemble premieres new works

akordus — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:54:20 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

Laura Slay – (314) 504-0081
lslay@slayandassociates.com

The University of Missouri New Music Ensemble made its St. Louis debut on Sunday, May 2 with “New Music, New Works,” a concert at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis featuring the world premiere of three new compositions written by University of Missouri students especially for the Contemporary’s current exhibition, the Great Rivers Biennial 2010.

The Ensemble, based on the University’s campus in Columbia, MO and directed by Dr. Stephan Freund, includes guitarist Michael Strasbaugh, clarinetist Stephanie Berg, cellist Matthew Pierce, and percussionist Ian Derrickson. They opened the concert with “Crass Menagerie,” composed by Strasbaugh and inspired by Cameron Fuller’s From the Collection of the Institute for the Perpetuation of Imaginal Processes.

Next up was “Paper Guns,” written by Berg in response to Sarah Frost’s Arsenal. “Sarah Frost’s exhibit is not what I was expecting and yet everything I hoped it would be, “said Berg. “I was aiming to capture the ethereal quality of the motion of the hanging guns in the slow, meditative harmonic landscape of my piece. The text that I used were my actual thoughts and reactions to the concept of her work as I saw pictures of its progress, since I had to compose the piece before Frost’s work was completed. My focus in this composition is on the expression of the text, as well as the unique coloristic opportunities that the New Music Ensemble has to offer.”

“The idea of translating visual art into music is a new idea to me, and an interesting one – I enjoyed the concert,” said Frost. “I liked Stephanie’s piece, especially the element of spoken voice. Her piece focused on the dark aspects of Arsenal, which she captured well; her piece seemed weighty and monolithic to me.”

The third selection on the program was “1 8 3 9,” a new work by Mizzou Adjunct Assistant Professor Paul Seitz, for which the composer joined the ensemble on violin. The title refers to the year 1839, which Seitz called “a transitional point between old ways and new” and also is the year the University of Missouri was founded. Martin Brief’s Amazon God served as inspiration for the next composition, “Failure to Communicate,” written by trombonist David Witter. All four performances were introduced by brief remarks from their respective composers.

The Ensemble concluded the concert by playing “Dance of Fury, for the Seven Trumpets,” from Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. The free event was sponsored by the Mizzou New Music Initiative, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.

MIZZOU NEW MUSIC INITIATIVE
The Mizzou New Music Initiative brings together a diverse array of programs intended to position the University of Missouri School of Music as a leading center in the areas of composition and new music. The Initiative is the direct result of the generous support of Dr. Jeanne and Mr. Rex Sinquefield, and the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation. The Sinquefields’ vision is to create an incubator for the composition and performance of new music, and to position Missouri as a major center for the music of tomorrow. Click here to read more about the Sinquefields’ support for the MU School of Music.

PHOTO CAPTION
Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield, New Music Initiative Sponsor – Stephanie Berg, Composer – Sarah Frost, Artist (left to right)

World-Premiere Concert from Mizzou New Music Initiative

akordus — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:55:00 +0000

Press Contact:

Anne T. Makeever

amakeever@camstl.org 314.535.0770 x311

Where: Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd. (at Spring), St. Louis, Mo., 63108

What: New Music, New Works, a concert of new music written by three University of Missouri composition students and inspired by works in the Great Rivers Biennial 2010 exhibition.

When: Sunday, May 2, 2010. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.; concert begins at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP to amakeever@camstl.org, or call (314) 535-0770 x311. A reception will precede the concert.

In conjunction with its Great Rivers Biennial 2010 exhibition, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, in collaboration with the Mizzou New Music Initiative, announces New Music, New Works, the world premiere of three original music compositions created by University of Missouri composition students Stephanie Berg, Michael Strausbaugh, and David Witter. Each composer created his or her piece in response to a work of art by the artists featured in Great Rivers Biennial 2010: Martin Brief, Sarah Frost, and Cameron Fuller.

New Music, New Works also includes a performance of 1 8 3 9, a composition by University of Missouri faculty member Paul Seitz that features a movement inspired by the artist Cezanne and an excerpt from Olivier Messiaen’s seminal work, Quartet for the End of Time.

The University of Missouri New Music Ensemble will perform all four compositions. The Ensemble is part of the Mizzou New Music Inititiative, sponsored by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation, and is directed by Stefan Freund, associate professor of music theory and composition.

“This event provides an opportunity for art and music lovers to feel a piece of art through different mediums. It raises interesting questions. Can a painting really evoke music? Will the music really match a painting? Will the audience see, hear that connection? The Mizzou New Music Initiative and the Contemporary are breaking new ground in St. Louis. We hope that this collaboration gets people thinking about art and composing music in new and inspired ways,” said Mizzou New Music Initiative sponsor Jeanne Sinquefeld.

Great Rivers Biennial 2010, curated by Laura Fried, assistant curator at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, is on exhibition in the museum’s Main Galleries April 30 – August 8, 2010. Opening Night for the exhibition is Friday, April 30, 2010, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Admission is free.

Great Rivers Biennial 2010 is supported by the Gateway Foundation.

General support for the Contemporary’s exhibitions program is provided by the Whitaker Foundation; The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; William E. Weiss Foundation; Nancy Reynolds and Dwyer Brown; Missouri Arts Council, a state agency; Regional Arts Commission; Arts and Education Council; and members of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.

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CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM ST. LOUIS
The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis promotes meaningful engagement with the most relevant and innovative art being made today. As a non-collecting institution, the Contemporary focuses its efforts on featuring local, national and international, well-known and newly established artists from diverse backgrounds, working in all types of media. As St. Louis’ forum for interpreting culture through contemporary visual art, the Contemporary connects visitors to the dynamic art and ideas of our times. As a gathering place for experiencing contemporary art and culture, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis pushes the boundaries of innovation, creativity, and expression. Visit the Contemporary’s website at www.camstl.org.

University of Missouri New Music Ensemble premieres new works

Catherine Neville Joins Lee St. Louis Niche Division

akordus — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:10:34 +0000

New syndicated culinary publication to be based in St. Louis

March 31, 2010, St. Louis, MO — Catherine Neville has joined the niche publishing division of Lee Enterprises’ St. Louis operations to launch a culinary and home-entertaining magazine that will debut early this summer and will be based in St. Louis.

“This is an incredible opportunity to build a high quality content platform for all things culinary,” said Neville. “We have the ability to offer this content to a significantly larger audience here in St. Louis and beyond.”

Neville, co-founder and former editor-in-chief of St. Louis-based Sauce Magazine, will serve as publisher, providing the creative vision for the publication and overseeing its multi-media platform on TV, radio, and online.

“We are very excited about the opportunity here in St. Louis to develop this suite of online and print products to serve such a vibrant community,” said Tom Wiley, publisher of the Suburban Journals. “Cat brings a wealth of experience, energy and knowledge to our team.”

Lee St. Louis’ niche division also publishes the Ladue News, St. Louis’ Best Bridal, stlmomsanddads.com magazine and stlhighschoolsports.com.

Lee Enterprises already has a sizable presence in the St. Louis area, where the company owns and operates the St. Louis Post-Dispatch; STLtoday.com, the No. 1 local Web site in the region, and the Suburban Journal of Greater St. Louis, a group of weekly newspapers, in addition to its niche publications.

Feast Magazine Brings Fresh Vision and Established Authority to the Table

Exciting Chess Club & Scholastic Center of Saint Louis Promotions

akordus — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:42:49 +0000

Facebook Giveaway

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is giving away three copies of the documentary DVD Changing of the Guard: 2009 U.S. Championship to three lucky members of our Facebook fan page.

The drawing will be held during the first week of April. Help us make a push for more than 1,000 fans as we gear up for the 2010 U.S. Championship! The club will provide constant updates throughout the championship including exclusive video footage and commentary. Be a fan of the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, the home of U.S Championship chess!

You can become a fan of the CCSCSL, the home of the 2010 U.S. Chess Championship and the 2010 U.S. Women’s and Junior Closed Championships, by clicking the link on the left.

Click the banner to buy the DVD online or stop by the Chess Club to pick one up today

Central West End Restaurant Donation Program

The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis has teamed up with the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, Bar Italia, Gelato Di Riso, Audi-K’s, Liluma and several other restaurants in the Central West End to create the Chess Club Donation Program.

Starting April 1, when a member of the Chess Club presents his or her membership card at a participating dining establishment, 10 percent of the bill will be donated back to the Chess Club.

The Chess Club is looking to expand the program further as a way to promote the CWE. The club has already brought national, and even global attention to the neighborhood by hosting prestigious chess championships.

“This new program is a way for us to further support the Central West End community,” said Executive Director of the Chess Club Tony Rich. “We would like to thank all participants for believing in and contributing to our mission.”

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The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 organization that opened in July 2008. It has more than 500 members. The club offers free classes, discounted tournament entry fees and discounted merchandise for club members.

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis Media Kit Now Available Online

Eight of the Best New American Composers Selected for Inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival July 12-18

akordus — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:04:12 +0000

COLUMBIA, MO, March 18, 2010 – Eight of the best new American composers will be coming to the Inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival from July 12 through 18, 2010 in Columbia, Missouri. At the end of the festival eight new compositions will be performed by the internationally acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound at the Missouri Theatre on July 18th, featuring works by the eight outstanding young American composers.

Composers scheduled to participate in the festival include:

Jose Francisco Cortez Alvarez, from Bloomington, Indiana;
Christopher Dietz, Ottawa Hills, Ohio (www.christopherdietz.org);
Paul Dooley, Ann Arbor, Michigan (www.pauldooley.net);
Moon-Young Ha, Champaign, Illinois (www.moonyoung.net);
Edie Hill, Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.ediehill.com);
Amy Beth Kirsten, New Haven, Connecticut (www.amybethkirsten.com);
Jeremy Podgursky, Bloomington, Indiana (www.jeremypodgursky.com);
Zhou Juan, Kansas City, Missouri (www.zhoujuanmusic.com).

The Inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival is part of the Mizzou New Music Initiative, a diverse array of programs launched by the University of Missouri’s School of Music intended to position the school as a leading center for music composition and new music. The initiative is a direct result of a $1 million donation by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation led by Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. Their vision is to create an incubator for the composition and performance of new music, and to showcase Missouri as a center for the music of tomorrow.

During the festival the eight composers will also receive private composition lessons from resident composers Martin Bresnick, recipient of the first Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and Derek Bermel, composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, they will take part in workshops with Alarm Will Sound, participate in master classes and receive a professional, ‘live’ recording.

“The talent of these new composers is staggering,” said Dr. Sinquefield. “Mixing their talent at the festival with major composers Bresnick and Bermel and Alarm Will Sound will be a crazy, wonderful event. I cannot wait for the resulting concert. This is a concert that cannot be missed. And for the participants, this will be a week they will never forget. Their combined talent is overwhelming. Anyone interested in development of American composition needs to come.”

Composers were selected through a portfolio application process by Dr. Stefan Freund, associate professor of music theory and composition, and Dr. W. Thomas McKenney, professor of music theory and composition, electronic music, both at the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Music. Criteria included submission of three scores of original works with contrasting instrumentation, with one score written for chamber orchestra or large ensemble, as well as recordings of the same works, and a professional resume.

Composers selected as resident participants for the festival are expected to compose a work for Alarm Will Sound’s complete instrumentation, lasting up to 9 minutes in duration, which can be viewed at www.alarmwillsound.com. Each composer must submit two scores and parts, professionally prepared, of their work by June 1, 2010.

Other resident composers for the Mizzou New Music Summer Festival are Freund and McKenney. Pianist Lisa Moore is the resident performing artist.

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For more information regarding the Inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival, please contact festival administrator William J. Lackey at 573-882-4471 or lackey@missouri.edu. More information about the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation is available at www.sinquefieldcharitablefoundationl.com. For more information about the Mizzou New Music Initiative, visit music.missouri.edu/newmusicinitiative.html.

Tickets now on sale for inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival