Dr. Paul Lessard, a candidate for a tenure-track position in the Department of Music, will give a public research presentation entitled “Big Ideas and the Crossover Trajectory: Compositional Philosophy and Practice behind the Music of Paul Alexander Lessard.” The presentation will take place on Monday, June 24, at 1:00 pm in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall (Room 224), Steel Building.

Using excerpts, recordings, and live performances of several of his compositions as examples, composer and performer Paul Alexander Lessard explores his compositional process from its guiding principles of versatility, problem-solving, and performer engagement, along with a discussion of his history and future working with the blending of elements from the vernacular genres of jazz and funk with the art music tradition to create a unique crossover voice.