FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 7, 1999 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE SYMPHONY TO HONOR NEW PRESIDENT AND CELEBRATE COPLAND CENTENNIAL The Drake Symphony Orchestra will open its 1999-2000 season with a concert dedicated to Drake President David Maxwell and his wife, Madeleine, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 26th Street and University Avenue. The concert, which is free and open to the public, also will celebrate the upcoming centennial of the birth of Aaron Copland, arguably America's most popular composer of concert music. The orchestra, conducted by John Canarina, will perform The Suite from Copland's "Billy the Kid" ballet. The program also includes "Veritas" by William P. Dougherty, chair of the Drake music department. The piece was commissioned especially for the inauguration of President Maxwell. Rounding out the program will be Mozart's Symphony No. 36 and Rimsky-Korsakoff's Capriccio Espagnol. An additional aspect of the concert is that it marks the 40th anniversary, to the day, of Canarina's professional conducting debut. Canarina is professor of conducting and director of orchestral activities at Drake. For further information, call (515) 271-3975.