“It was my idea to start the group at Marshall,” Joey Dangerfield, president of the Society of Composers, said. “The national organization was founded about 1960.”

The Society of Composers is a non-profit organization to benefit new music and living composers, Dangerfield said.

Dangerfield said he feels there is a need for this kind of group at Marshall.

“I feel that new music is poorly represented on this campus, and that if people were a little more educated about new music, they would understand why it is just as important as older music,” Dangerfield said. “I also believe that musicians, especially composers, need a voice on this campus.”

Students are welcome to join, Dangerfield said. He also thinks joining is beneficial.

“Joining would allow students to experience new music which not only includes the semantic value included in music,” Dangerfield said. “But many multicultural stimuli as well.”

The Society of Composers had its first event April 2.

Student composers had the chance to perform their own work at a concert.

The concert was free to the public, but donations were taken, Dangerfield said.

The program featured four student composers and two faculty members performing two pieces they had written themselves.

“It was up to the students and faculty as to what they performed,” Dangerfield said. “They were also responsible for getting the pieces ready and rehearsing.”

More information about joining is available by contacting Dangerfield or John Allemeier, their adviser.

Story by Courtney Ross