New Music Chicago announces a free, monthly concert series titled New Music Chicago Presents that showcases the diversity and creativity of its members. In partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), New Music Chicago will take place from 7:30 to 8:30pm (central) every THIRD Tuesday of the month, live-streamed onto NMC’s YouTube page from the Nevermore Performance Space (for the duration of 2021). Admission is free. All lead performers are members of New Music Chicago.
Curated and hosted by pianist and New Music Chicago member Marianne Parker, the New Music Chicago Presents series will bring a new body of repertoire and innovative performances to listeners in Chicago and beyond while also exposing new audiences to the world-class new music being created among Chicago musicians.
Read a preview article in the Chicago Tribune here.
NMC Presents 2021 Season Roster
Jonathan Hannau, piano
January 19, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
Pianist and composer Jonathan Hannau performs selections from his work, “Pieces I Wrote on a Cold Winter Night.”
Watch the show below:
Jordan Lulloff, tenor saxophone
February 16, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
~Nois saxophonist Jordan Lulloff performs his program, “I Know Alone,” which features five works for solo tenor saxophone. Works by Gemma Peackocke, Emma O’Halloran, Nick Zoulek, and Cassie Wieland.
Watch the show below:
Scott Tegge, tuba
March 16, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
Scotte Tegge of Gaudete Brass presents a program of contemporary works for tuba.
Ben Roidl-Ward and The Chicago Wind Project
April 20, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
The Chicago Wind Project presents its program, “Signs and Wonders: New Works for Woodwind Quintet,” featuring works by Tania Leòn, Pierce Gradone, Chris Fisher-Lockhead, and Aaron Holloway. Performers include Constance Volk, Andrew Nogal, Katie Jimoh, Matthew Oliphant, and Ben Roidl-Ward.
Shi-An Costello, piano
May 18, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
This solo piano program by Shi-An Costello explores music written last year by Chicago-based composers and pianists, including Costello himself, Sebastian Huydts, and Jonathan Hannau. The program, consisting entirely of works written in 2020, explores the revisiting of piano repertoire through improvisation, during the isolating early months of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wurtz-Berger Duo
June 15, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
Pianist Amy Wurtz and cellist Alyson Berger present a program of contemporary works for piano and cello duo.
Chicago Composers’ Consortium
July 20, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
This program features works by members of the Chicago Composers’ Consortium. Performers include Lawrence Axelrod, Amos Gillespie, and Elizabeth Start.
Anna Laurenzo, mezzo-soprano
August 17, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
Mezzo-soprano Anna Laurenzo presents her program, “Around and around…” This recital explores different recurrent cycles that exist within the shared and isolated human experience. Ms. Laurenzo’s collaborators include Shannon McGinnis (piano) and Rebecca Faber (violin).
Beyond This Point Percussion
September 21, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
BTP presents its program, “Reclaimed Timber.” For this production, we reimagine Michael Gordon’s Timber to be more about housing and homelessness in a specific city. We use “instruments” that are found among abandoned and vacant homes in Chicago (so the sounds are essentially of Chicago).
Crossing Borders Music
October 19, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
CBM presents a program of contemporary works by under-represented composers from around the world.
Sixto Franco, viola and Juan Horie, cello
November 16, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
Sixto Franco (of Fifth House Ensemble) and Juan Horie come together as Quixote Duo to present their program, “Outdifferencing.” Highlights include premieres by Chicago-area composers Igor Santos and Ben Zucker.
Henry Zheng, violin and Michael Finlay, piano
December 21, 2021
7:30PM CENTRAL
Violinist Henry Zheng comes together with pianist Michael Finlay as Duo Forzando. They present their program, “Spin-off,” featuring music by Missy Mazzoli, Kathryn Mishell, Amos Gillespie, and Philip Glass.