GREAT FALLS – Great Falls College MSU adjunct music instructor Sam Krahn was recently selected for an Artist’s Innovation Award from the Montana Arts Council.
The Artist’s Innovation Award honors artists who have introduced something new or different. This can include new methods, applications, perspectives, elements, forms, materials, technology integration or project concepts. Krahn is one of eight artists selected for the 2017 award.
Krahn is a composer, guitarist, performer, and teacher. At GFC MSU, he teaches Music Theory, Aural Perception and Applied Guitar Instruction.
Krahn writes music using notated scores given to highly trained performers to make extremely specific sounds and gestures. In 2016, he founded the Montana Improvisers Orchestra, a group that combines amateur and professional musicians to explore new sound worlds. He created a new graphic score, Tetractys Study, specifically for this group.
“This score, unlike many of my previous compositions, does not use traditional notation,” Krahn explained. “Instead, I created a series of 15 charcoal and graphite sketches that performers react to in the moment and simultaneously choose how to musically interact with the other members of the group.”
“Sam is continually exposing his students to new, innovative forms of music and inspiring them to pursue their own passion for music,” said Cynthia Stevens, department chair of fine arts and humanities at GFC MSU. “We’re very excited to have this caliber of music instructor at Great Falls College MSU.”
The seven other awardees include visual, performing and literary artists from Bozeman, Missoula, Helena and Billings.
For more information on the Artist’s Innovation Awards, visit the Montana Arts Council website at art.mt.gov/aia.
For more information on the music coursework offered at Great Falls College MSU, visit gfcmsu.edu or contact admissions at 406-268-3700.
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