"The open, collaborative nature of Chicago's new music community is home to an extraordinary crop of ensembles and a vibrant landscape of composers. The scene for new music in Chicago is exceptional and I dedicate myself to supporting and encouraging its sustainability and growth." — Augusta Read Thomas
October 1, 2023
Preview of World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S JESTERS for Saxophone Quartet performed by ~Nois, Hunter Bockes, János Csontos, Jordan Lulloff, Julian Velasco, at Constellation in Chicago.
NOVEMBER 9, 2023
New York Premiere of SUN DANCE for orchestra in Memoriam Oliver Knussen performed by the American Composers Orchestra, conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni in Zankel Hall of Carnegie Hall.
NOVEMBER 13, 2023
World Premiere of ILLUMINATIONS “FANFARE SINFONIA” for 2 horns, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones, 1 bass trombone, solo timpani, and 3 percussion (very small percussion instrumentation) performed by Josh Jones as timpani soloist and the DePaul Wind Ensemble, Erica Neidlinger, conducting, in the Mary Patricia Gannon concert hall at DePaul University, Chicago.
NOVEMBER 19, 2023
World Premiere of OH JACQUELINE for tenor and piano. Commissioned by Ryan Townsend Strand as part of his “Letters To Jackie project in honor of the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.” Performed by Ryan Townsend Strand, tenor and Karina Kontorovitch, pianist in Chicago, Illinois.
JANUARY 27 AND 28, 2024
World Premiere of NEW WORK for orchestra performed by the Orchestre de chambre de Paris conducted by Simone Menezes, with Baritone soloist Laurent Naouri, Cello soloist TBD (en partenariat avec le CNSMDP,) Chorégraphe by Thierry Thieû Niang, and Lighting by Jimmy Boury at the Philharmonie de Paris – Cité de la Musique, Paris, France. This work is about the characters of Ygnold and Arkel. It is inspired by the following line from Arkel in Maeterlinck's play, “we only ever see the other side of destiny.” (Maeterlinck, Pelléas et Mélisande, Act I, Scene 3)
MARCH 16, 2024
World Premiere of GWENDOLYN BROOKS SETTINGS for Treble Chorus and Orchestra.
Text by Gwendolyn Brooks. World premiere by Anima – Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, The chorus of Chicago High School for the Arts, and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Stilian Kirov, conducting, Charles Sundquist, Chorus, Director.
This commission and associated activities are partially supported by a 2019 grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Illinois Humanities.
APRIL 22, 2024 (EARTH DAY)
World Premiere of HEAVY METAL SUITE performed by Axiom Brass in Vancouver, BC at the Vogue Theater. Comprised of individual movements inspired by different critical metals (e.g., copper, gold, lithium, platinum) composed by Augusta Read Thomas (Gold/USA), Chris Chafe (Silicon/USA), Christopher Sainsbury (Lithium/Australia), Edzi’u (Introduction/Tahltan), Roberto Manzanares (Silver/Mexico), Valeria Gisel Valle Martinez (Copper/Chile), Vuma Levin (Platinum/South Africa), Yao Chen (Zinc/China). 
Read More
APRIL 25, 2024
World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S JESTERS for Saxophone Quartet performed by ~Nois, Hunter Bockes, János Csontos, Jordan Lulloff, Julian Velasco, at Constellation in Chicago.
MAY 17, 2024
World premiere NEW WORK performed at Carnegie Hall in Zankel Hall, New York, NY.
December, 2024
World premiere of NEW WORK for 11 virtuosi, commissioned by The Juilliard School, performed by AXIOM conducted by Jeffrey Milarsky, Music Director, at Alice Tully Hall, New York, NY.
SEPTEMBER 21 & 22, 2023
Guest Composer at the Oberlin College and Conservatory.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2023
TERPSICHORE'S BOX OF DREAMS for 13 players performed by The University of Iowa New Music Ensemble, David Gompper conducting.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
THE AUDITIONS, a ballet for chamber orchestra performed by the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble conducted by Timothy Weiss in Oberlin, Ohio.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2023
SILENT MOON for violin and cello performed by violinist, Maria Anastasiadou and cellist, Abby Lorimier as presented by Sinfonia Cymru in Wales, UK on their programme for Vale of Glamorgan Festival.
October 11, 12, 13, 14, 2023
Composer in Residence at DYNAMIKfest Salzburg, Clarissa Bevilacqua, Artistic Director. Masterclass and lecture at the Mozarteum University Salzburg, Austria. As directed by the renowned French bassoonist Pascal Gallois, several chamber works will be performed including the European Premiere of TERPSICHORE'S BOX OF DREAMS for 13 players; SCAT for ensemble; ACROBATS for flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, and piano; A CIRCLE AROUND THE SUN for piano trio; CAPRRICI 'HUMMINGBIRD ROMANCE' for flute and clarinet; and TWILIGHT BUTTERFLY for mezzo-soprano and piano.
View All 2023 Events
