Aaron Copland is often referred to as the “Dean of American Music”, a title he earned by his dedication to promoting and fostering a highly talented crop of new American composers throughout the 20th century. This circle of composers, by way of friendly competition and mutual inspiration, played an active role in shaping the iconic “American sound” in the early half of the twentieth century. These composers not only sought to promote themselves but to further the cause of American contemporary music at a seminal moment in the development of an American musical identity. Many of them were instrumental in the founding of the American Music Guild, the American Music Center, and the American Composer's Alliance, the League of Composers and the Society for the Publication of American Music. To celebrate this unique period in American music Walden Chamber Players has decided to embark on a new recording project: Finding a voice - the evolution of the American sound scheduled for Spring 2015 at the Fraser Performance Studio at WGBH in Boston. This collection of music for flute, piano and strings will feature Walden’s exceptional flutist and founding member Marianne Gedigian in compositions by Aaron Copland, Ned Rorem, Paul Bowles, Marion Bauer and Samuel Barber. Marianne is not only a cherished member of Walden but also a star in the American flute scene. She performed for over a decade with the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops and currently holds the position of Professor of Flute at UT Austin and the Brevard Music Center. She has also served on the faculties of Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, The Boston Conservatory, the Round Top International Institute, and the Tanglewood Music Center. Marianne will be joined by fellow Walden members Curtis Macomber, Irina Muresanu, Christof Huebner, Ashima Scripp and Jonathan Bass. The Walden Chamber Players was founded in 1997 and throughout the years has dedicated itself to presenting a new concept of a classical concert both in content and presentation. Drawing from a rich palette of sources and styles, it mixes and matches the works of both classical and contemporary composers with an eye to new understandings and discoveries. The ensemble also has an ongoing commitment to commissioning, performing and recording new music. Our last project, A Voice Gone Silent Too Soon, the music of Gerhard Schedl, was also generously funded by our Kickstarter supporters and has garnered national and international praise. To read some of our reviews visit www.waldenchamberplayers.org/news.htm.