Noted for its persuasive advocacy of the contemporary soundscape since 1988, New Music DePaul launches its 2005-2006 concert season on Oct. 28 with guitar works by composers Kurt Westerberg, Juan Campoverde and Fred Gifford, current and former DePaul University School of Music faculty members. The program also includes songs by Patricia Morehead and Samuel Barber sung by soprano Julia Bentley; a piece called “Corroboree” for two pianos by Earle Brown featuring pianists George Flynn and Westerberg; and a work by Karel Husa to be performed by saxophonist Susan Cook. DePaul percussion faculty member Tina Keitel will perform a new marimba solo written by Paul Failla, a composer and DePaul alumnus who teaches at the university. Concert time is 8 p.m. in the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden Ave. in Chicago. A reception for musicians and concertgoers follows the free, public performance.

Under the directorship of Flynn, a DePaul Music School faculty member emeritus, the New Music DePaul series provides a much-needed performance platform for musical works by contemporary composers, many of whom are from the Chicago area. To date, the series has presented more than 300 new scores to the public. Flynn, himself, is a highly respected composer who has been recognized nationally for his music. For more than a decade, he has received a prestigious American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) award annually for his works. In creating this series at DePaul, Flynn sought to establish an active collaboration between composers and performers, many of whom are members of the School of Music faculty.

The three works for guitar will feature Jesse Langen as soloist. Being performed for the first time are scores by Westerberg and Campoverde. Westerberg is the long-time chair of musicianship studies and composition; Campoverde, a native of Ecuador, joined the faculty last year and currently holds a full-time position in musicianship and composition. A third guitar selection, which has been performed previously in the New Music DePaul series, is by Gifford, a DePaul alumnus and former faculty member.

The program also includes Morehead’s “Alaskan Songs” and Barber’s “Mélodies Passagères.”

For more information about New Music DePaul, call the School of Music at 773/325-7260 or visit the school’s Web site at music.depaul.edu.