Sharing “the back story” of masterworks by Haydn, Beethoven, Rimsky Korsakoff, Sibelius, Ives, and Vaughan Williams, Rick will offer guidance as we listen to portions of those works. A sweeping overview of the pieces will offer insight into the biographies of the composers, the significant events of their time, the devices employed in the structure of their music, and the emotional depths. You will learn to listen in new ways. Rick will also share some of his own compositions. No musical background is required, only a curious, adventurous spirit.

Moderator: Rick Sowash is the composer of 600+ works. His clarinet concerto was recorded by the St. Petersburg Symphony. His cello concerto premiered in Carnegie Hall. His music is broadcast on WGUC and other American and Canadian radio stations. He is the author of eight books, including “How Music Means” which grew out of his OLLI course with the same title. He received OLLI's Stephen Appel Award for excellence in teaching.