New Music DePaul, the professional contemporary music series sponsored by DePaul University's School of Music, will begin its 1997-98 season on Nov. 7 with a concert featuring three versions of Portrait No. 3 by internationally-known composer John Downey, and "Fields" for solo marimba by rising newcomer Evan Hause.

The free, public concert will begin at 8 p.m. in the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden Ave. Future concerts in the New Music DePaul series will be presented on Feb. 27 and May 22, 1998.

The Nov. 7 concert features an unusual performance of Downey's Portrait No. 3 by three different ensembles. A DePaul alumnus, Downey is a internationally-recognized composer of symphonic and chamber works and a resident composer at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Portrait No. 3 for flute and piano will be performed by guest artist Stuart Leitch on piano and DePaul music faculty member Mary Stolper on flute. Stolper is the principal flute of both Concertante di Chicago and the Chicago Sinfonietta chamber orchestras, and a regular guest performer with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Portrait No. 3 for saxophone and piano will feature Leitch and saxophonist Susan Cook, another DePaul music faculty member who has performed throughout the United States. Finally, Portrait No. 3 for double bass and piano will be performed by Leitch and a bassist to be announced.

"Fields" for solo marimba, written by Hause, a rising young composer from Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, Kan., will be performed by Carrie Biolo. A DePaul music graduate, Biolo is a member of the Chicago new music group "Jack the Dog." The annual New Music DePaul series features performances by distinguished guest artists and DePaul music school faculty members who play professionally with prestigious area orchestras and ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera Orchestra. The series presents an eclectic mix of music by established international, Midwest and DePaul faculty composers, including debut works.

"New Music DePaul tries to present selections that represent the panorama of music in our times," said composer George Flynn, musical director of the series. "We're style blind in programming, but style sensitive in our playing. We play everything from very intellectually-involved pieces by Milton Babbitt to the unpredictable, spontaneous works of John Cage."

Flynn chairs the department of musicianship studies and composition at DePaul's School of Music. He has composed more than 100 musical works in all media, including orchestral, chamber, solo (piano, harpsichord, violin) and vocal/choral compositions, many as commissions and requests from various performers and ensembles. His music is performed internationally, and has appeared on six critically-acclaimed recordings.

As a pianist Flynn has performed and recorded new music for many years in the United States and Europe. He has served as visiting lecturer/composer at many music institutions throughout the country, and has contributed articles to several American music publications.