Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 6, 1992                   TAG: 9203060145
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Jeff DeBell
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EX-ROANOKER HAS A FEATURED ROLE IN ARTSOUNDS SERIES

The performance will be in Roanoke College's Olin Gallery at 8 p.m.

ArtSounds is sponsored jointly by the college and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and is designed to showcase contemporary music in a gallery setting. The Artemis XV exhibition will be in the gallery.

Kraft's compositions have been performed by orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. He has composed for film, television and radio, and one of his pieces, "Contextures: Riots - Decade '60," has been choreographed for the Scottish National Ballet and the Minnesota Dance Company.

The composer holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia University and was a longtime percussionist and timpanist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has been composer-in-residence for the philharmonic and at Chapman College. He recently completed three years as a visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and currently is chairman of the composition department at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Thomas Akins is a 1961 graduate of William Fleming High School and a former member of the Roanoke Youth Symphony and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music of Cincinnati.

Akins took part in the premiere performance of Kraft's "Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra" with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1964 and has since performed it with orchestras in Toronto, Washington and Birmingham, Ala. He has recorded the piece, which is dedicated to him, with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

Akins was named principal timpanist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1965 and held the post for 26 years. He currently is director of public relations for the orchestra, music director of the Indy Pops Orchestra and leader of the Sonic Boom Percussion Ensemble and the Chamber Brass Choir. He also is active as a sports broadcaster.

Tuesday's ArtSounds program consists of Kraft's "Corrente II," "Kandinsky Variations," "Episodes" and Concerto for Timpani.

In addition to Akins, participating musicians will be pianists Victoria Bond and Teresa Ehrlich; violinist James Glazebrook; and the composer, William Kraft, on percussion.

Tickets are $6 for general admission and $3 for students and senior citizens. Additional information is available from the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra at 343-6221 or 343-9127.