Recent Grad's New Album 'Made Of' Several UK Talents
"I come from a background in traditional/classical composition," Shafran said. "During my first few years at UK, I spent a lot of time composing for various chamber groups and soloists; however, about two years ago, I discovered Ableton Live, a computer program that lets users create electronic music entirely from scratch. It allows for total artistic creativity and makes it possible to combine the worlds of electronic drums and synthesizers with live recordings of real instruments."
Shafran has been working on the album since last summer. "The album began last July when I was playing around with recorded samples of my voice — layering them to create harmonies and synth-like textures. I kept jotting down new ideas, and before I knew it, I had six or seven songs sketched out. I got my friend Jonathan Barrett involved, and together, we recorded all sorts of layers and melodies — taking advantage of his multi-instrumental talents on guitar and saxophone. Shortly after, UK student and Lexington Philharmonic member Jessie Zhu became a big part of the project, recording violin on six of the 10 tracks."
Other musicians joining Shafran and music performance seniors Barrett, of Georgetown, Kentucky, and Zhu, of Lexington, on the project were:
· doctoral student Jeremy Bass, of Berryville, Virginia, on classical guitar;
· doctoral student Danny Hoppe, of Chicago, Illinois, on cello;
· music performance senior Aryana Misaghi, of Charleston, West Virginia, on flute;
· music performance senior Joel Murtaugh, of Whitesburg, Kentucky, on upright bass;
· mathematics senior Conner Novicki, of Louisville, Kentucky, on electric bass; and
· music education senior Coty Taylor, of Frankfort, Kentucky, on piano.
Doctoral student Elizabeth Varnado, of Louisville, and theatre senior Madison Ward, of Maysville, Kentucky, provided vocals.
"Made Of" is available for streaming and purchasing at www.Maerz.Bandcamp.com and on Soundcloud. More info on Maerz can be found on Facebook.
Shafran, a native of Richmond, Kentucky, is a 2016 music and German graduate and former member of the Honors Program at UK. He previously served as the principal percussionist in the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra and took first place in the Winter Guard International's Independent World Percussion Championships with the indoor percussion group RHYTHM X.
During his senior year of high school, Shafran received the Emerson Scholarship for the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp and attended under the instruction of Keith Aleo and Jung-Ho Pak.
At UK, Shafran also presented on his work and experience building melodic percussion instruments out of propane tanks at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research, hosted by the university in 2014. The presentation included a history of the instrument and its family, and a playing demonstration with fellow UK percussionist Aaron Marsala.
For more information on Shafran and his music projects, visit his website www.connorshafran.com.
The UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts has garnered a national reputation for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu