'Blue 13' ranked in top 10 albums

<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Junghwa Lee and Frank Stemper have racked up another accolade for their CD, “Blue 13.” The Global Music Awards ranks the CD in its “Top Ten Albums of 2015,” placing it at number four. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Lee is associate professor of piano at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Stemper is professor emeritus and former composer-in-residence at SIU. The CD, released through Albany Records in April, features Lee’s piano virtuosity, showcased by means of Stemper’s complete piano compositions (so far). </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Global Music Awards named the CD a Gold Medal Award winner earlier this year. Gold Medal Awards go to only the top 10 percent of entries for the record competition. Global Music Awards are industry awards meant to recognize original music and emerging artists. </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">“Blue 13” is a complete record of Stemper’s compositions for piano so far. He also composes music for orchestra, chamber ensemble, voice and computer. His music has traveled to 22 countries and the United States. Stemper has spent his 30-plus-year career not only at SIU, where, in addition to his teaching position he also served as composer-in-residence, but at many other universities and music conservatories as guest composer or artist or teacher in-residence. His compositions reflect the middle 50 years of the 20th century, with influences from jazz and other music forms.</span></p>