Karole Armitage to perform in Lawrence

Lawrence native Karole Armitage returns to the Lied Center with her new science-themed multimedia work, “Three Theories.” The evening-length performance is derived from the theoretical physics outlined in Brian Greene’s best-selling book “The Elegant Universe.” “Three Theories” interprets key concepts in contemporary physics through stunning dance, high-speed duets and shape-shifting formations with an original score composed by Lukas Ligeti.

Dubbed by Vanity Fair as the “Punk Ballerina,” Armitage founded her first full-time company, Armitage Gone!, in 1979. The Tony-nominated choreographer and dancer then formed Armitage Gone! Dance in 2005.

While in Lawrence, Armitage Gone! Dance will conduct a three-day residency including activities with KU dance and physics students, 940 Dance Company at the Lawrence Arts Center and 940 Choreographers Conference and a pre-performance discussion. In anticipation of Friday’s performance, the Lied Center will host a lobby display on the responsibility and impact of science curated by KU museum studies students Cristina Chavez of Mercedes, Texas, and Amanda Millhouse of Grand Blanc, Mich.

Additional public appearances:

•”Dialogues on Dance,” 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., with Susan Reiger of 940 Dance and Michelle Heffner Hayes from KU’s dance department.

• Pre-performance discussion on “Three Theories,” 6:30 p.m. Friday, Lied Center’s Seymour Gallery.

Tickets for “Three Theories” are $24 for the public and $10 for senior citizens and youths. Call 864-2787 for more information.

Guest artists join KU jazz performers

The KU Jazz Ensemble I and Jazz Combo I will collaborate in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H. Joining them will be distinguished jazz composer/arranger and KU graduate Kerry Marsh, along with his wife, Julia Dollison, also a notable jazz musician/vocalist.

Marsh and Dollison will perform four of Maria Schneider’s compositions with the Jazz Ensemble I: “The Pretty Road;” “Sky Blue;” “Danca Illusoria;” and “Hang Gliding.” All four of these selections can be found Marsh and Dollison’s new “Verical Voices” CD. They also will perform some of their compositions and arrangements for smaller ensembles with the KU Jazz Combo I, and will perform a cappella selections, as well.

Marsh and Dollison recently released an album titled “Vertical Voices: The Music of Maria Schneider,” which has received high praise from various publications, including a four-star review from DownBeat Magazine. Additionally, Marsh has worked extensively with pop singer and pianist Ben Folds and both Marsh and Dollison have worked with pop singer Imogen Heap.

Robert Foster honored by composing group

Robert Foster, Kansas University professor of music, was recently chosen as an ASCAPLUS Award recipient. These distinguished awards, created by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, are granted by an independent panel and based on the value of each writer’s catalog of original compositions as well as recent performances.

Robert E. Foster is professor of music at KU and served as Director of Bands at for 31 years beginning in 1971. He is also the conductor and musical director of the award winning Lawrence City Band. His KU Symphonic Band performed at numerous national and regional conventions, including performances and clinics for Music Educators National Conference, the American Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association and others. He continues an active career as a guest conductor, adjudicator, author, composer, arranger, and editor.

He was selected as the recipient of the 2010 International Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award.

KU graduate wins essay contest

Bailey Pike, a graduate from Kansas University’s musicology program (’09), recently won an essay prize from The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America 2010 National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest.

Pike won for her essay entitled “The Mythology of Mozart.” She is a master’s student at the University of Illinois, and studied at KU for her musicology undergraduate degree under Professor Paul Laird. While at KU, she won the KU Library Book Collecting Contest twice.

After a two year hiatus, the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest was reinstated under the joint leadership of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies, the Center for the Book, and the Rare Books and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress, with major support from the Jay I. Kislak Foundation.

The awards ceremony took place Oct. 15 at the Library of Congress.