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Remembering Stephen Paulus, Composer Of Shoes For The Santo Niño

https://stephenpaulus.com/
Sharolyn Hagen Photography

American music lost an important voice in 2014.  StephenPaulus, internationally-known for his choral compositions and operas, passed away at 65.  One of his last major works was an opera for families based on a story by New Mexico writer Peggy Pond Church.  Shoes for the Santo Niño was originally presented in 2011 by the University of New Mexico, which commissioned it, in conjunction with the Santa Fe Opera.  The Opera brings it back this month for holiday performances.

Stephen Paulus joined us at KUNM in 2011 right before the premiere of Shoes for the Santo Niño.  He shared his thoughts about writing an opera that's not only designed to appeal to children, but includes an important part for children's chorus as well.

Spencer Beckwith reports on the arts for KUNM. For ten years, until March of 2014, Spencer was the producer and host of KUNM's "Performance New Mexico," a weekday morning arts program that included interviews with musicians, writers and performers. Spencer is a graduate of the acting program at the Juilliard School, and, before moving to New Mexico in 2002, was for many years a professional actor based in New York City.