Featured Speaker:

Dr. J. Murray Gibson – Professor of Physics at Northeastern University

Host:

Parker Hirtle – MIT alum, former architect and consultant in architectural acoustics at BBN/Acentech, wood sculptor

Description:

This year’s annual Newman Fund Benefit will feature Professor J. Murray Gibson of Northeastern University. Dr. Gibson, a professor in physics, will present his September 2012 ASA talk “Physics of the blues – Scales, harmony, and the origin of blues piano styles.†The talk will be followed by a blues performance.

The Benefit will be held at Parker Hirtle’s home, which was inspired by the residential work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Parker Hirtle is a graduate of the MIT School of Architecture (with Bill Cavanaugh in the same class.) Parker was a registered architect for many years, joined the architectural acoustics staff at BBN in 1959, and retired from Acentech in 1995. Since taking an introductory course in wood sculpture at the DeCordiva Museum, Parker has produced a large number of works and has exhibited at the Belmont Hill School and MIT Alumni Reunions in 2001, 2006, and 2011. Many of his works will be on display at his residence during the Newman Fund Benefit Reception.