North Carolina NewMusic Initiative
OUR MISSION
To engage our community in all phases of new music’s culture:
- Commissioning and meeting composers – Recent projects by Lei Liang, Melinda Wagner, Matthew Ricketts, James Mobberley, Travis Alford and Aaron Brooks!
- Preparing new works for world premiere performances–New projects emerging from Asha Srinivasan, and Trevor Weston (spring, 2025 premiere)
- Creation of archival recordings
- Pursuing questions of cultural and aesthetic critique.
SPRING 2024 CONCERT SEASON
EZRA (Progressive Bluegrass Ensemble)
[January 25, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
Founded by award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Jones, EZRA is a collective of classical, jazz, rock, and bluegrass musicians focussed on the creation of genre-crossing and style-inclusive new music. Though the instrumentation and personnel of the group fluctuates, EZRA’s core ensemble consists of world-renowned mandolinist Jacob Jolliff, banjo virtuoso Max Allard, and bassist extraordinaire Craig Butterfield, with Jones on guitar- and keyboard-related instruments.
In addition to the concert, members of EZRA will engage with our music students through as series of master classes, career seminars, and a composition reading session/ workshop featuring music by ECU student composers, written specifically for this occasion.
[January 25, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
FREQUENCIES
[February 13, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
A concert of 20th and 21st century music, produced and performed by ECU music students.
[February 13, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
Joe Bognar, Piano
[March 11, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
Pianist Joe Bognar (Valparasio University) will present a lecture/recital, performing pieces by György Ligeti, György Kurtág, Unsuk Chin, and “Hommage an György Ligeti,“ a composition by ECU Professor of Musicology, Navid Bargrizan.
[March 11, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
Gilad Hochman, composer
ECU Symphony Orchestra – 2023 Composition Contest Winner
[March 16, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Wright Auditorium
The ECU Symphony Orchestra will perform the winning work of the 2023 NCNMI Orchestral Composition Competition, A Voice in the Wilderness by Gilad Hochman.
Concert will also include William Grant Still’s Danzas de Panama and Sibelius’s Pelleas and Melisande Suite.
[March 16, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Wright Auditorium, free]
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES
[March 21, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
New works by ECU student composers, featuring ECU student performers.
[March 21, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
HINGE
[April 4, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
Philipp Stäudlin (saxophones), Dan VanHassel (electric guitar), Matt Sharrock (percussion), and Keith Kirchoff (piano). Lying somewhere between a chamber ensemble and an avant-garde rock band, the Hinge Quartet combines cutting-edge contemporary classical and experimental music with seamless multimedia integration and the innovative re-imagining of rock and pop songs.
In addition to the concert, members of Hinge will engage with our music students through as series of master classes, career seminars, and a composition reading session/ workshop featuring music by ECU student composers, written specifically for this occasion.
[April 4, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES
[April 9, 2024 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
New works by ECU student composers, featuring ECU student performers.
[April 9, 2024 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
PAST EVENTS
MATT SHARROCK, Percussion
[October 5, 2023 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
NC NewMusic Initiative kicks off its 23rd season with a Guest Artist Residency by percussionist Matt Sharrock, a vibrant musician whose performances have been praised as “eloquent” (San Francisco Chronicle), “sumptuous” (Boston Globe), and “gorgeously lyrical” (Pittsburgh Gazette), and who has been hailed as one of “Boston’s best percussionists” (I Care if You Listen).
In addition to the concert, Matt will engage with our music students through as series of master classes, career seminars, and a composition reading session/ workshop featuring music by ECU student composers, written specifically for this occasion.
[October 5, 2023 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES
[November 14, 2023 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
New works by ECU student composers, featuring ECU student performers.
[November 14, 2023 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
MODERNMEDIEVAL VOICES
[November 30, 2023 @ 7:30pm]
Fletcher Recital Hall
NC NewMusic Initiative is proud to once again welcome ModernMedieval Voices, an all-female ensemble created by Dr. Horner-Kwiatek to present programs that combine medieval chant and polyphony with new commissions and perspectives – a fresh approach to programming that introduces this wonderful music to new audiences!
In addition to this concert, the members of ModernMedieval will engage with our music students through a series of master classes, career seminars, and a composition reading session/ workshop featuring music by ECU student composers written specifically for the ensemble.
[November 30, 2023 @ 7:30pm, Fletcher Recital Hall, free]
BECOME A SPONSOR!
Come hear how new ideas are initiated, and celebrate our ANNUAL EXPLORATION OF THE SOUNDS OF OUR TIME. There are concerts, Master Classes with visiting performers and composers, readings of student composers’ works, receptions, discussions and more!
Follow this link to make a secure donation.
TO BECOME A SPONSOR CONTACT:
East Carolina University School of Music, 252-328-6851, or Travis Alford or
Edward Jacobs, Founder/Director of the NC NewMusic Initiative, at NewMusic@ecu.edu 252-328-1249