Current and former NAU student composers join together for a weekend of new contemporary music May 3-5 in three concerts at Ardrey Memorial Auditorium and Ashurst Hall. A diverse roster of 13 composers will have a total of 15 original works performed including 11 world premieres. All the concerts are free and open to the public.
The marathon starts with the School of Music concert series, SOUNDS, on May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Ardrey Memorial Auditorium. The concert has been produced four years in a row and showcases an immense variety of new works.
“P-U-R-P-L-E: An Evening of Contemporary Chamber Music ” will be on May 4, at Ardrey Memorial Auditorium at 8 p.m. The evening features six of the thirteen composers who were asked to write music using an outside source of inspiration. Some chose an instrument and others chose a different medium entirely for their newly written world-premieres. Curated by NAU senior, Liza Stegall, “P-U-R-P-L-E” combines contemporary dance, amplified typewriter, spliced Beyoncé, body percussion, a canvas art display, and rock n’ roll synthesizer in an imaginative contemporary music performance.
The New Music Marathon will conclude May 5 with the premiere of “The Minor Etudes” for solo cello at Katryn Boerner’s Senior Recital at 10:00 a.m. at Ashurst Hall.
The composers featured are Bryant Furhman, Chris Vennel, Drew Worden, Ian Gryzb, Jonathan Annis, Jordan Lewis, Jordan Pearson, Kevin Austin, Liza Stegall, Owen Davis, Rachel Bomalaski, Simon Nissen, and Wesley Hunter.
Free parking is available behind Cline Library