Oakland, CA–February 19, 2008.   Public radio station KALW (91.7 FM) will broadcast a special series throughout March, "Music from Mills," highlighting the history and music of the internationally renowned Center for Contemporary Music at Mills College in Oakland, CA. 

KALW producer David Latulippe will host the series celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Center that is considered at the vanguard of experimental and electronic music. From its adoption of analog synthesizers in the 1960s to the most recent compositions with live electronics, computer software and interactive networks, the Center continues to challenge traditional artistic boundaries and to explore new forms of musical expression. Today it is a major nexus for a variety of world-class experimental musical artists.

"Music from Mills" begins airing on Monday, March 3, 2008 from 9:00 pm–10:00 pm and will continue every Monday through March 31. The first program features background on Mills' Center for Contemporary Music and the French composer Darius Milhaud, one of the most prolific 20th-century composers, who wrote music for operas, theater, symphonies, and ballets, as well as film and radio scores. The program will also air the music of Milhaud, including Violin Sonatas No.1 and 2, and selections from the CD "Milhaud at Mills—A Celebration in Song." Milhaud was a major influence on the Mills Music Department while serving as a faculty member from 1941–1971.

"Music from Mills" will also broadcast past performances by Mills faculty members Chris Brown, Fred Frith, Roscoe Mitchell, Pauline Oliveros, Maggi Payne, William Winant, and India Cooke as well as music by former faculty members Henry Cowell and Lou Harrison.

KALW also will broadcast a report on the history of the Center for Contemporary Music during its "Morning Edition" radio show on Thursday, February 28 at 8:50 am.

The historical roots of the Center for Contemporary Music trace back to 1961 to the San Francisco Tape Music Center, which showcased groundbreaking electronic music composers Ramon Sender, Pauline Oliveros, Morton Subotnick, and visual artist Tony Martin. The Tape Music Center relocated to the Mills campus in 1966 under its first director, "deep listening" innovator Pauline Oliveros, and received its current name in 1967.

The Center offers Mills students, faculty, and staff a variety of electronic equipment, instruments, and recording and editing studios; provides instruction and technical assistance; and archives audio recordings. The Center also performs a wide variety of community services in the arts, including public concerts and lecture series, informational and technical assistance, and artist residencies.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California, Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering a dynamic progressive education that fosters leadership, social responsibility, and creativity to approximately 900 undergraduate women and 500 graduate women and men. Since 2000, applications to Mills College have more than doubled. The College ranks as one of the top colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report and one of the Best 366 Colleges by the Princeton Review.

PRESS CONTACT:
Quynh Tran
Media Relations Manager
510.430.2300