Face the Music: Ascending Voices with Kamala Sankaram
.jpg)
Featuring works with Kaufman Music Center Artist-in-Residence Kamala Sankaram alongside student-composed pieces and Face the Music Songwriter performances.
Continuing a legacy of giving voice to contemporary artists with music spanning modern genres, Face the Music is proud to highlight works written by its own student musicians. For the first time ever, Face the Music's Chamber Music Lab will present pieces specifically workshopped within a collaborative group setting, led by Coach Whitney George. Plus, Face the Music songwriters take the stage to share lyrics fresh off the page with their unique musical voices.
In yet another thrilling collaboration, ensemble members will share the stage with Kaufman Music Center Artist-in-Residence Kamala Sankaram – a soprano and bandleader whose category-defying compositional voice will be featured in performances by both the Improvisation Collective and Chamber Orchestra. Kamala's works on the program will include Bombay 5-0, an energetic tune released on the 2014 album Cinefonia by her band Bombay Rickey, and a selection of movements arranged from The Bitter Suite, a work commissioned by Anti-Social Music for Election Night 2008 featuring text by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.
2022 First Commission
.jpg)
Interim for trio and electronics (2022)
New Thread Quartet
Jonathan Hulting-Cohen, soprano saxophone
Erin Rogers, alto saxophone & mentor
Zach Herchen, baritone saxophone
The recipient of the 2022 Composers Now First Commission Award is Ebun Oguntola. Ebun is a 16-year-old contemporary classical composer, violinist, pianist and saxophonist living in upstate New York. Her music was brought to the attention of Composers Now by the founders of Luna Composition Lab, Missy Mazzoli and Ellen Reid. With mentorship from composer/saxophonist Erin Rogers, Ebun will create a chamber work for the New Thread Quartet that received its world premiere as part of the Opening Event of the 2022 Composers Now Festival.
