Blurring the lines between concert music, sound art, and electronic club culture, Galindo and Pritsker create immersive performances that fuse live electronics, real-time sound manipulation, chamber instruments, spoken word, and bold compositional strategies. Their work challenges traditional listening expectations, moving seamlessly between structured composition and raw sonic experimentation.
This is music that lives in the cracks between genres—where acoustic textures collide with beats, noise, and digital processing, and where the formality of chamber music meets the immediacy and physicality of the club. Expect an adventurous, unpredictable night of sound that pushes contemporary music beyond the concert hall and onto the edge of the dance floor.
Joining the two composer/DJs are Michiyo Suzuki (clarinet), Stephanie Susberich (voice), Franz Hackl (trumpet), Gottfried Stöger (saxophone), and Kathleen Supové (piano). The program also includes music by Madelyn Byrne, Ginka Mizuki, Kathleen Supové and Stephanie Susberich. Featured compositions include the premieres of 'Dedos Calientes' by Gilbert Galindo and 'Good & Unadulterated' by Gene Pritsker
2026 Composers Now Festival
Composers Now Launches 15th Annual Festival with a Kick-Off Concert at National Sawdust
January 28, 2026 | 7:30 PM | National Sawdust
Pre‑Concert 15th Anniversary Celebration:
Sea Thai | 5:00–6:30 PM | Ticket: $150 (includes reception + concert)
Concert Tickets: $30 General Admission | $20 Students & Seniors
Composers Now proudly announces the launch of its 15th annual Composers Now Festival with a landmark opening‑night concert on January 28 at 7:30 PM at National Sawdust. The evening begins with a special 15th anniversary pre‑concert celebration at Sea Thai from 5:00 to 6:30 PM, honoring the organization’s legacy of championing living composers across New York City and beyond.
This year’s Festival Kick‑Off concert celebrates the extraordinary breadth of contemporary musical voices and the collaborative spirit that defines Composers Now. Throughout February, the Festival unites presenters and performers from every corner of the city—renowned venues, cutting‑edge ensembles, visionary opera and musical theater companies, and innovative dance organizations—to spotlight the work of today’s composers. At every event, composers are present, engaged, and in conversation with audiences, reinforcing the Festival’s commitment to visibility, community, and artistic exchange.
The 15th anniversary concert honors Visionary Award recipients Rhiannon Giddens and Billy Childs for their profound contributions to American art. The program features works by Kavita Shah, Pauchi Sasaki, Ileana Perez Velazquez, Trevor Weston, Jake Blount, and Jessica Shand, performed by acclaimed artists including violinist Mari Kimura, cellist Mihai Marica, and others.
Composers Now also proudly presents the world premiere of a new work by Amil Abumrad, this year’s First Commission recipient, performed with members of The Dessoff Choirs, Malcolm J. Merriweather, Music Director.
The evening additionally includes a short video highlighting interdisciplinary collaboration, offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at composer Younje Cho and filmmaker Renu Savant during their 2025 residency at the Pocantico Center—a partnership between Composers Now and the Asian Cultural Council, supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
Join us for this extraordinary celebration of living composers and the vibrant artistic community that surrounds them. Festival events continue throughout February. Visit composersnow.org for the full schedule.
For more information about Composers Now, please visit www.composers.now.org
To join the 15th anniversary pre-concert reception, click HERE
For Kick-off concert ticketing information, click HERE