Making magic music

Published 9:42 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

Michael Matlock of North Bend is thrilled to have Seattle Symphony musicians perform his original composition.

“It’s almost unbelievable” to have professionals who are willing to do it, Matlock said.

The 19-year-old Valley resident has been studying piano since he was 10. He also plays guitar and studies with the Academy of Music Northwest, a private, nonprofit precollege classical music training academy.

For the past three years, Matlock has attended the David Diamond Young Composers Workshop – a project of the Seattle Symphony’s Education and Community Programs Department.

Matlock said his work at the workshops has provided invaluable experience learning not just the basics of composition, but the practical needs of professional musicians.

As the culmination to the workshop, Seattle Symphony musicians will premiere chamber works written by 10 precollege-age composers in a free performance on Monday, April 23, at 8 p.m. in the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall.

Each young composer will briefly discuss the inspiration behind his or her piece before its performance, providing audiences with the unique opportunity to hear the thoughts and musical ideas of the next generation of United States composers.

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