By Natalie McKenna

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (UJ) – On February 13 at 2 p.m. in DeNault Auditorium, John Clodfelter will present the World Premiere of Concerto for Piano and Wind Orchestra by Wes Flinn.

This concert is being presented by the University of Jamestown Department of Music and sponsored by the Convocation Committee. It is free and open to the public. Dr. Richard Walentine says the newly composed piece has been a few years in the making.

Clodfelter adds that composer Wes Flinn has reached out to him about creating the piece for him.

He pointed out that from its first performance, Flinn can tweak anything he feels in the piece.

Before the premier, the composer will give a lecture, “Pinhook Piano: The Composition and Structure of Wes Flinn’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Band.” Dr. Walentine says this will be a unique opportunity.

Clodfelter, who is a full-time Instructor of Piano and Piano-Arts at the University of Jamestown, will be joined by pianist Dr. Mei-Chuan Lin. Dr. Lin has given numerous performances in Taiwan, the United States, and Austria. She currently teaches at the University of North Dakota, where she has served as a collaborative pianist and teaching assistant professor in the piano area since Aug. 2019.

Wes Flinn, a native of Pinhook, IN, holds degrees from Morehead State University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Currently, he is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Minnesota Morris, where he teaches music theory and composition. His works have been performed throughout the United States, France, Austria, Slovenia, and Australia. He lives in Morris, MN with his wife Amanda and three cats.