NC NewMusic Initiative 2014-2015

Roomful of Teeth [October 2, 2014]

Founded in 2009 by Brad Wells, Roomful of Teeth is a vocal project dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice. Through study with masters from non-classical traditions the world over, the eight voice ensemble continually expands its vocabulary of singing techniques and, through an on-going commissioning project, invites today’s brightest composers to create a repertoire without borders.
On Oct. 2 in the A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall: at 10am, Caroline Shaws presents her music; at 11am The Career Center@ECU cosponsors a discussion about life in the arts, “Making a Living, Making a Life,” followed by a reception with artists at 12pm.

[October 2, 2014 Concert @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 7:30pm, tickets by phone at 1-800-ECU-ARTS or online HERE.]

Blair McMillen, piano [November 6, 2014]

The New York Times has described Blair McMillen as “riveting,” “prodigiously accomplished and exciting,” and as one of the piano’s “brilliant stars.” Blair leads a multifarious musical life as pianist, chamber musician, conductor, and improviser. He plays a vast variety of musical styles: from medieval keyboard manuscripts to improvisation-based music of all types: from Classical/Romantic-era piano repertoire to the music of young 21st-century composers. Known for his imaginative and daring programming, Mr. McMillen has premiered hundreds of new works, both as soloist and with numerous ensembles.

[November 6, 2014 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Premiere Performances [November 20, 2014]

ECU School of Music performers focus their talents on the music of ECU composers in these first ever public performances–world premiere performances. The first of three concerts each year dedicated to the newest ideas of these developing young composers.

With music by
Patrick Rose, Nia Franklin, Ben Sledge,
Matthew Ayers, Julian Ward, and Joshua Campbell.

[November 20, 2014 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Christopher Grymes, clarinet & Xak Bjerken, piano [January 23, 2015]

An eclectic and versatile performer, clarinetist Christopher Grymes’ playing has been described as “brilliant” (The Clarinet), and “eloquent…animated and free of any interpretive self indulgence” (The Strad). Most recently, The New York Times praised his “acuity” and The Baltimore Sun his “admirable technical and expressive strengths.”
Equally at home in chamber, orchestral, and new music, Mr. Grymes is currently a member of the New York-based chamber ensemble Concertante, and has performed with the Boston Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Utah Symphony, as well as many other orchestras throughout the United States. He served as a tenured member of the faculty at the East Carolina University School of Music from 2001-2011. Mr. Grymes is the founder of Open G Records, and currently lives and works in New York, NY.

[January 23, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Xak Bjerken, piano [January 23, 2015]

Xak Bjerken has appeared with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, and as co-director, with Steven Stucky, of Ensemble X. He has performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Konzerthaus in Berlin, at Alice Tully Hall, Weill Hall and the Kennedy Center.
Xak has held residencies at Tanglewood, Spoleto, and the Olympic Music Festival; served on faculty of the Eastern Music Festival, is currently on faculty at Kneisel Hall, and the Chamber Music Conference at Bennington College. Since his first solo recording (CRI), he has recorded for Open G Records, Koch Internat’l, Chandos, Albany Records, and Artona.

[January 23, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

CIRCUIT BRIDGES [February 22, 2015]

ECU highlight music from the electronic medium by composers from NYC and from throughout NC in an evening sure to expand our listening perspectives.

[February 22, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Frequencies [March 20, 2015]

Frequencies is an ensemble created and directed entirely by students. These remarkable members of the ECU School of Music’s community make programming decisions, form ensembles, rehearse and prepare works for performance. Frequencies is music’s future blooming before our ears. Come hear what drives the next generation’s musical interests and passions!

[March 20, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

ECU Chamber Winds [March 21, 2015]

Select performers from the ECU School of Music, under the direction of Scott Carter, present the world premiere of Divergent Melodies (2015) a newly commissioned work by Aaron Brooks, alongside Matthew Tommasini’s And the Tree Grows Again (2007). We’ll also have a moderated discussion with Will Robin addressing how we engage musical ideas on a first hearing?

[March 21, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Aaron Brooks, composer [March 21, 2015]

Aaron Brooks comes to composing by way of rock and metal’s avant-garde. Raised in Greenville, NC by visual artist parents, he developed an interest in creativity early, first via drawing, and later with 4-track home recording during his teenage years, subsequently finding a home in the contemporary composition world.

Aaron has composed in various styles, but always maintains a quirky and exciting approach to rhythmic energy. He has written for Collide-O-Scope Music, pulsoptional, and the American University Student Sax Quartet, and been performed by IonSound Project, the NOW Ensemble, Alia Musica Pittsburgh, the ECU Choral Scholars, the Wellesley Composers Conference, the soundSCAPE festival in Italy, the PSO Young Composers Reading, and the Cleveland Composers Recording Institute.

[March 21, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Premiere Performances [March 22, 2015]

ECU School of Music performers focus their talents on the music of ECU composers in these first ever public performances–world premiere performances.  The second of three concerts each year dedicated to the newest ideas of these developing young composers.  Works by Patrick Rose, Nia Franklin, Ben Sledge, Akeem Lipford and Travis Huff.  Can’t get here? Access a live stream.

[March 22, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]

ECU Symphony Orchestra [March 28, 2015]

Jorge Richter, director in a program featuring Three Musings, the winner of our 10th Annual Orchestral Composition Competition; Notturno Concertante, a clarinet concerto by Jeremy Gill performed by Christopher Grymes; and the world premiere of Prairies Ablaze, by Mark Richardson.

[March 28, 2015 Concert @ Wright Auditorium, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Christopher Grymes, clarinet soloist [March 28, 2015]

An eclectic and versatile performer, clarinetist Christopher Grymes’ playing has been described as “brilliant” (The Clarinet), and “eloquent…animated and free of any interpretive self indulgence” (The Strad). Most recently, The New York Times praised his “acuity” and The Baltimore Sun his “admirable technical and expressive strengths.”
Equally at home in chamber, orchestral, and new music, Mr. Grymes is currently a member of the New York-based chamber ensemble Concertante, and has performed with the Boston Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the Utah Symphony, as well as many other orchestras throughout the United States. He served as a tenured member of the faculty at the East Carolina University School of Music from 2001-2011. Mr. Grymes is the founder of Open G Records, and currently lives and works in New York, NY.

[March 28, 2015 Concert @ Wright Auditorium, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Jeremy Gill, composer [March 28, 2015]

Jeremy Gill has been commissioned by the American Guild of Organists, Chamber Music America, Concert Artists Guild, the Harrisburg Symphony, the Kimmel Center, and has been performed by the Parker and Casal Quartets, Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Concertante, Great Noise Ensemble, Harrisburg Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic. He has received awards from BMI, ASCAP, the League of American Orchestras, and has been composer-in-residence with the Dalí Quartet Chamber Music Camp and Festival, Harrisburg Symphony, and Newburyport Chamber Music Festival.

[March 28, 2015 Concert @ Wright Auditorium, 7:30pm, free admission.]

Premiere Performances [April 20, 2015]

ECU School of Music performers focus their talents on the music of ECU composers in these first ever public performances–world premiere performances. The third of three concerts each year dedicated to the newest ideas of these developing young composers. Program to be announced.

With music by
Isaac Ward, Tim Wells, Nia Franklin, Julian Ward, Patrick Rose, Drew Keil, Joshua Tomlinson, Matthew Ayers, Andrew Howell, and Josh Campbell.

[April 20, 2015 Concert @ A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall, 7:30pm, free admission.]