soundSCAPE Festival 2024
July 3-12, 2024
Centre de Musique Hindemith
Blonay, Switzerland
Aiyun Huang | Artistic Director
soundSCAPE 2024
About the Festival
soundSCAPE facilitates the flowering of new music and the exchange of ideas and culture between musicians of tomorrow’s generation. We attract composers and performers from around the world for two weeks of concerts, lectures, master classes and workshops. The essence of the festival is one of process and collaboration – giving rise to new music initiatives that have flourished long beyond the festival, all around the globe. soundSCAPE supports diversity in the arts through all aspects – including our programming, faculty, staff, and participants. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all involved in the festival. We approach all music with open ears and a passion for making your voice heard.
This year, we are excited to create new music this summer at the Centre de Musique Hindemith in beautiful Blonay, Switzerland.
- Aiyun Huang, Artistic Director
DAILY SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES CET
7h45-8h45
Building Opens – Breakfast
9h-10h20
Hindemith Salon: Composition Seminar
(July 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Bartok Hall: Performer Masterclass
(July 4, 5, 6, 8, 10)
10h30-11h50
Hindemith Salon: Electronic Music Design & Performance (July 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Bartok Hall: Improvisation Module
(July 4, 5, 6, 8)
12h00-13h00
Daily Tutti Hour
13h00-14h15
Lunch
14h30-19h00
Lessons/Individual Meetings/Rehearsals
19h00-20h00
Dinner
20h15-21h30
Evening Concert
21h30
Free Time
DAILY EVENTS
Thursday, July 4, 2024
12h00 – Michael Jarrell Lecture
20h15 – Faculty Concert No. 1: Jarrell+
Attention Span (2022) | Maria Lihuen Sirvent
July 7, 2021
Mark Fewer, violin
Felix Fan, cello
Lisa Cella, flute
Joshua Rubin, clarinet
Thomas Rosenkranz, piano
Aiyun Huang, percussion
Tony Arnold, conductor
Persephoneia (2023) | Adam Greene
Lisa Cella, flute
Machine with Cat Whiskers from Solo Diaries (2013) | Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez Thomas Rosenkranz, piano
Emancipation Pondering (2024) | Nina Barzegar
Joshua Rubin, Clarinet
Echo, Mvt. III (2011) | Michael Jarrell
July 8, 2021
Tony Arnold, voice
Thomas Rosenkranz, piano
TREI II (1983) | Michael Jarrell
Tony Arnold, voice
Mark Fewer, violin
Felix Fan, cello
Lisa Cella, flute
Joshua Rubin, clarinet
Thomas Rosenkranz, piano
Aiyun Huang, conductor
Friday, July 5, 2024
12h00 – Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez Lecture
Saturday, July 6, 2024
12h00 – Roundtable Discussion No. 1
20h15 – Participant Showcase No. 1
July 7, 2021
CORE (2024)* | Asher Lurie
Gael Castillo Jiménez, percussion
Trik Gass, percussion
Anna Mueller, percussion
Yue Yin Zhang, percussion
Chameleon (2024)* | Weiyang Ding
Claire Latosinsky, voice
Sophie Reimer-Epp, violin
Mafalda Santos, cello
Cameron DeLuca, clarinet
Yuxuan Minerva Cheng, piano
Britton-René Collins, percussion
July 8, 2021
Aiyun Huang, conductor
On Cycles (2024)* | Daniel Adarve Virgen
Tony Arnold, voice
Saba Yousefi, violin
Malfado Santos, cello
Lisa Cella, flute
Cameron DeLuca, clarinet
Yuxuan Minverva Chen, piano
Julius Mauldin, conductor
We tear, scratch, like our second skin (2024)* | Sicheng Huang Mark Fewer, violin
Daniel Matei, percussion
Mirror-Laden (2024)* | Julian Stuart-Burns
Mark Fewer, violin
Mafalda Santos, cello
Leah Thomas, clarinet
Kyle Adam Blair, piano
Julius Mauldin, conductor
*world premiere
Sunday, July 7, 2024
12h – Participant Showcase No. 2
Iterate (2024)* | Yixuan Ling
Gael Castillo Jiménez, percussion
July 7, 2021
Trik Gass, percussion
Anna Mueller, percussion
Yue Yin Zhang, percussion
Aiyun Huang, conductor
East of Sorrow (2024)* | Niyayesh Bagheri شر ِق اندوه
Leah Wenger, voice
Saba Yousefi, violin
Felix Fan, cello
Lisa Cella, flute
Leah Thomas, clarinet
Kyle Adam Blair, piano
Julius Mauldin, conductor
July 8, 2021
silk & velvet (2024)* | Delfin Demiray
Mark Fewer, violin
Daniel Matei, percussion
LSD Dream Emulator (2024)* | James Lowrie Sophia Sorrentino, voice
Sophie Reimer-Epp, violin
Felix Fan, cello
Cameron DeLuca, clarinet
Qianli Chen, piano
Britton-René Collins and Aiyun Huang, percussion Tony Arnold, conductor
*world premiere
Monday, July 8, 2024
12h00 – Improvisation Concert
Masque-Rondeau (2018) | Eliza Brown
Led by Thomas Rosenkranz
Kyle Adam Blair
William Carriere
July 7, 2021
Qianli Chen
Yuxuan Chen
Megaria Halim
Sicheng Huang
James Lowrie
Julian Mauldin
Siobhan Plouffe
Sophie Reimer-Epp
Sophia Sorrentino
Daniel Virgen
Leah Wenger
July 8, 2021
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
12h00 – Electronic Music Design Presentation Led by Joshua Rubin
Essay for voices by Anthony Donofrio Snippets by Lisa Ling
aftab / آفتاب by Niyayesh Bagheri 3/2 by Anna Mueller
I undid what God did by Delfin Demiray Spider Web Schoenberg by Daniel Matei
Water is Wet by Asher Lurie
Who is Singing? by Jinxin Fu
The Self We Share by Saba Yousefi Gossamer by Weiyang Ding
Piece for Accordion by Duncan Hall The Stomach is Organic by Mafalda Santos
Song from the Caiplie Caves by Claire Latosinsky Groove Machine by Cameron DeLuca
Stringvoice by Julian Stuart-Burns
Counterpoint of the Crows by Leah Thomas
20h15 – Faculty Concert No. 2
Lakescape (2023) | Lei Liang
Tony Arnold, voice
Thomas Rosenkranz, piano
Aiyun Huang, percussion
Notebook (1997) | Stuart Saunders Smith
Joshua Rubin, clarinet
Lisa Cella, flute
Aiyun Huang, percussion
Thomas Roesnkranz, piano
Danza del alla from Flores del Viento (1990) | Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon Tony Arnold, voice
Mark Fewer, violin
Calder (2015) | George Lewis
Mark Fewer, violin
Joshua Rubin, clarinet
Thomas Rosenkranz, piano
Alexandre Babel, percussion
Aiyun Huang, percussion
Daniel Matei, percussion
This concert is dedicated in loving memory to Stuart Saunders Smith (1948-2024). July 8, 2021 Wednesday, July 10, 2024
12h00 – Alexandre Babel Lecture
20h15 – Carte Blanche à Alexandre Babel
Madeline Hocking, violin Sophie Reimer-Epp, violin Saba Yousefi, violin
Mafalda Santos, cello
Qianli Chen, piano
Yuxuan Minerva Chen, piano
Gael Castillo Jiménez, percussion Britton-René Collins, percussion Trik Gass, percussion
Daniel Matei, percussion
Anna Mueller, percussion Yue Yin Zhang, percussion
Thursday, July 11, 2024
12h00 – Roundtable Discussion 2
20h15 – Short Compositions and Participant Curation
Here and Now | Yixuan Ling
July 7, 2021
stumbling, spiraling | Asher Lurie
Aiyun Huang, marimba
Speaking my Part | Delfin Demiray
Sophia Sorrentino, Claire Latosinsky, voice,
Joshua Rubin, bass clarinet
The Sound of Soul | Niyayesh Bagheri
Saba Yousefi, violin
Niyayesh Bagheri, tanbur
The Sound of Soul | Niyayesh Bagheri
Saba Yousefi, violin
Niyayesh Bagheri, tanbur
To Eat, or Not to Eat | Jinxin Fu
Sophia Sorrentino, Claire Latonsinsky, Leah Wenger, voice Jinxin Fu, voice and percussion
Julius Mauldin, conductor
Dans | Julian Stuart-Burns
Saba Yousefi, violin
Daniel Matei, percussion
Tequila Nights Under Swiss Skies | Daniel Adarve Virgen Leah Wenger, voice
Daniel Adarve, piano
Spirations | James Lowrie
Sophia Sorrentino, Claire Latosinsky, Leah Wenger, voices Felix Fan, cello
Joshua Rubin, clarinet
James Lowrie, guitar
Julius Mauldin, conductor
A Night In The Phoenix Hostel | Daniel Advare Virgen
Anna Mueller, percussion
Yueyin Zhang, percussion
Julius Mauldin, piano
David Advare Virgen, dancer
Caprice no 5 | Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté
Sophie Reimer-Epp, violin
Sua katselen | Kaija Saariaho
Claire Latonsinsky, voice
Kyle Adam Blair, piano
Sieben Bagatellen mit Apotheose der Glasharmonika | Matthias Pintscher Cameron DeLuca, bass clarinet
From Opus Contra Naturam, for speaking pianist | Brian Ferneyhough Kyle Adam Blair, piano
Friday, July 12, 2024
Festival Departure
July 8, 2021
soundSCAPE Faculty
Tony Arnold, Voice
Celebrated as a “luminary in the world of chamber music and art song”
(Huffington Post), Tony Arnold is internationally acclaimed as a leading
proponent of contemporary music in concert and recording. Her unique
blend of vocal virtuosity and communicative warmth, combined with wide
ranging skills in education and leadership were recognized with the 2015
Brandeis Creative Arts Award, given in appreciation of “excellence in the
arts and the lives and works of distinguished, active American artists.” Ms.
Arnold’s extensive chamber music repertory includes major works written
for her voice by Georges Aperghis, George Crumb, Brett Dean, Jason
Eckardt, Gabriela Lena Frank, Josh Levine, George Lewis, Philippe Manoury,
Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Christopher Theofanidis, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon,
and numerous others. She is a member of the intrepid International
Contemporary Ensemble, and enjoys regular guest appearances with
leading ensembles, presenters and festivals worldwide. With more than
thirty discs to her credit, Ms. Arnold has recorded a broad segment of the
modern vocal repertory with esteemed chamber music colleagues.
Her recording of George Crumb’s iconic Ancient Voices of Children (Bridge) received a 2006 Grammy nomination. She is a first-prize laureate of both the Gaudeamus International and the Louise D. McMahon competitions. A graduate of Oberlin College and Northwestern University, Ms. Arnold was twice a fellow of the Aspen Music Festival as both a conductor and singer. She was the 2015-16 Kunkemueller Artist-In-Residence at the Boston Conservatory, and currently serves on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory and the Tanglewood Music Center.
Alexandre Babel, Composition
Alexandre Babel is a Swiss composer, percussionist and curator based in
Berlin. He is involved in various contemporary contexts encompassing modern
classical music, performance art and interdisciplinary works. His innovative
projects break through the borders of musical convention, confounding
listener expectations in the conquest of new contexts. 2013 to 2022 artistic
director of the contemporary percussion ensemble Eklekto, 2009-2019
principal percussionist of the Ensemble KNM Berlin, co-founder of the
performance collective Radial. He has worked with artists such as Ensemble
Musikfabrik, Sudden Infant, Anthony Pateras, Caspar Brötzmann, Carol
Robinson, Felicia Atkinson, Steven O’Malley, Kali Malone, Tristan Perich, Ryoji
Ikeda. In 2020 the monographic Festival Les Amplitudes in La Chaux-de
Fonds focusses on Babel’s compositions and curatorial work. In 2022 he
works as a curator for Latifa Echakhch’s exhibition "The Concert" at the swiss
Pavillon of the Venice art Biennal. Babel is laureate of the Swiss Music Prize
2021.
Lisa Cella, Flute
A strong advocate for contemporary music, flutist Lisa Cella has performed
as a soloist and chamber musician all over the world. She commissions and
presents works that expand the expressive and technical language of the
flute to a broader audience with a current focus on low flutes. Through
presentations, masterclasses, and festival teaching, she strives to
encourage each new generation of flute players to explore and embrace
contemporary music. She is a full professor and chair of the department at
UMBC. https://music.umbc.edu/directory/cella/ (Mike Olliver, photographer)
Felix Fan, Cello
Felix Fan is a rare talent in the world of contemporary music.
Described by Gramophone as “particularly sublime”, he is one
of the most acclaimed, renowned, and respected cellists
performing today. As a soloist, collaborative artist and
advocate for new music, Felix is admired for his technically
refined interpretations and independent spirit, working with
diverse and contemporary composers including Philip Glass,
Michael Gordon, Hans Werner Henze, Oliver Knussen, David
Lang, Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Kaija Saariaho,
Tan Dun, Julia Wolfe and Charles Wuorinen.
Felix continues to collaborate with the most cutting-edge
composers and instrumentalists, “navigating the structural
complexities and layers of shifting tempo with flair” (New York
Times). A strong advocate for the creation and commissioning
of new music, Felix has premiered over 100 works and dozens
of recordings in his career.
On the world stage, he has appeared at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Musikverein and the Royal Festival Hall and as a soloist with orchestras including the Hong Kong Philharmonic, National Symphony (Taiwan), and the Munich Chamber Orchestra.
As a member of Flux Quartet, Felix pushes the boundaries of contemporary music, embracing the avant garde and interpreting the innovative styles of emerging composers and artists. Flux has been featured onscreen and in soundtracks for acclaimed director Matthew Barney and collaborated with esteemed choreographers Pam Tanowitz, Shen Wei and Christopher Wheeldon. Before Flux, he enjoyed touring with the Bang on a Can Allstars for several years.
Beyond the world of contemporary music, Felix believes in the power of collaboration between musicians, filmmakers, actors and artists. In this capacity, he worked with director Charlie Kaufman and the Coen Brothers on a live radio play featuring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Steve Buschemi. He has also performed with members of Sonic Youth, Wilco and The National.
Fan studied cello with Eleanore Schoenfeld (University of Southern California), Janos Starker (Indiana University), Aldo Parisot (Yale University) and Boris Pergamenschikow (Hochschule fur Musik, Cologne, Germany). In 1994, he was honored by Bill Clinton as a Presidential Scholar.
Mark Fewer, Violin
Described as “genre-bending” by the National Post,
and “intrepid” by the Globe and Mail, Mark Fewer
has performed around the world to critical acclaim
in virtually every role asked of a violinist – and then
some. His regular musical diet includes
performances from the early baroque to the avant
garde, with recent performances as soloist with
groups as wide-ranging as the Melbourne
Symphony (Australia), the Fodens-Richardson Brass
Band (UK), the Zapp Quartet (Amsterdam), and the
McGill Percussion Ensemble (Canada). He is also a
dedicated chamber musician, jazz violinist, artistic
director, and teacher.
Aiyun Huang, Percussion & Artistic Director
Aiyun Huang enjoys a musical life as soloist,
chamber musician, researcher, teacher and
producer. Globally recognized since winning the
2002 First Prize and Audience Prize of the Geneva
International Music Competition. She is a champion
of existing repertoire and a prominent voice in the
collaborative creation of new works. Huang has
commissioned and premiered over two hundred
works in her three decades as a soloist, chamber
musician and producer. The Globe and Mail critic
Robert Everett-Green describes Huang’s playing as
“engrossing to hear and to watch” and her choice of
repertoire as capable of “renovating our habits of
listening.”
Her past highlights include performances with St. Lawrence String Quartet, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Taipei Symphony Orchestra and San Diego Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in international festivals and venues including the Victoria Hall in Geneva, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra’s Green Umbrella Series, LACMA Concert Series, Holland Festival, Agora Festival in Paris, Banff Arts Festival, 7éme Biennale d’Art Contemporaine de Lyon, Vancouver New Music Festival, CBC Radio, La Jolla Summerfest, Scotia Festival, Montreal New Music Festival, Cervantino Festival in Mexico, and the National Concert Hall and Theater in Taipei. Her recent premieres include works by Shih-Hui Chen, Kuei-Ju Lin, Mari Kimura, Carlos Sanchez Guttierrez, Pall Ragnar Palsson, Jesse Jones, Zosha DiCastri, Philippe Leroux, David Bithell, Nicole Lizée, George Lewis, Chris Mercer, Kotoka Suzuki, Sandeep Bhagwati, and Eliot Britton.
Beyond her acclaimed body of creative work, Huang’s research focuses on the multidisciplinary exploration into the performing body in media technology, theatre, dance and music using percussion as the central voice. She has published in the Cambridge Companion to Percussion, Contemporary Music Review, Frontiers in Psychology, Journal of Motor Behavior, International Conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expressions, Percussive Notes, Intersections, and CIRCUIT. She has released two DVDs Saving Percussion Theatre and Memory in Motion: Percussion in Surround and one documentary Drumming in Magic Time featuring the performance practice of Steve Reich’s Drumming. She directs Technology and Performance Integration Research (TaPIR) Lab at the University of Toronto.
Besides her performance career and creative outputs, Aiyun pursues a wide array of activities to integrate performance and research, and to support emerging artists and peers internationally. In 2015, Aiyun led the inaugural edition of Transplanted Roots: Percussion Research Symposium gathering international performers and scholars from four continents to discuss and reflect on the current state of contemporary percussion. Transplanted Roots takes place on a different continent every other year with 2017 in Brisbane (Australia), 2019 in Guanajuato (Mexico) and 2022 in San Diego (USA). In 2019, Aiyun served as the Grand Jury for the Geneva International Music Competition. In 2018, Aiyun was the keynote speaker to Multidisciplinary Conference at the University of Toronto. In 2017, she hosted PASIC Focus Day and was the conference director for Illuminations: Brian Cherney at 75 at McGill University, Montreal. In 2016, Aiyun was the keynote speaker for Australian Percussion Gathering where she met over 400 percussionists from across Australia.
Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Aiyun holds a DMA degree from the UC San Diego. Between 2006 and 2017, she led the percussion program at McGill University and held the position of William Dawson Scholar. She currently holds the position of Professor of Music at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto where she heads the percussion area and directs the University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble. She also serves as the Artistic Director for soundSCAPE Festival in Blonay, Switzerland.
Michael Jarrell, Guest Composer in Residence
Born on October 8, 1958 in Geneva, Michael Jarrell studied composition at
the Geneva Conservatory with Eric Gaudibert and at various workshops in
the United States (Tanglewood, 1979). He completed his training with
Klaus Huber at the Freiburg Staatliche Hochschule für Musik im Brisgau.
Starting in 1982, his works have received numerous prizes: prix Acanthes
(1983), Beethovenpreis from the city of Bonn (1986), Marescotti prize
(1986), Gaudeamus (1988), Henriette Renié (1988), and Siemens
Förderungspreis (1990). Between 1986 and 1988, he was in residence at
the Cité des Arts in Paris and took part in the computer music course at
Ircam. He resided at the Villa Médicis in Rome during 1988/89, and then
joined the Istituto Svizzero di Roma in 1989/90. He has received the Music
Prize from the City of Vienna (Musikpreis der Stadt Wien 2010).
From October 1991 to June 1993, he was composer in residence with the
Lyon Orchestra. Beginning in 1993, he became professor of composition at
the University in Vienna. In 1996, he was "composer in residence" at the
Lucerne festival, and then was heralded by the Musica Nova Helsinki
Festival, which dedicated the festival to him in 2000.
In 2001, the Salzburg Festival commissioned a concerto for piano and orchestra entitled Abschied. The same year, he was named "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres".
In 2004, he was named professor of composition at the Geneva Conservatory.
Denis Martin, Technical Director & Sound Engineer
Denis Martin serves as an Assistant Professor of Music Technology and
Digital Media at the University of Toronto. Prior to this role, he taught at
York University, McGill University, and The State University of New York in
Potsdam. His research focuses on sound perception, critical listening, audio
system evaluation, equity, diversity, and inclusion in audio research and
education. Denis Martin has presented at multiple Audio Engineering
Society (AES) events and co-authored articles in the Journal of the Audio
Engineering Society and Empirical Musicology. As an audio engineer, Denis
Martin specializes in recording contemporary classical music and in mixing
and mastering R&B, Indie, Jazz, Folk, Rock, and crossover genres. His work
has garnered 3 Juno nominations, 2 ECMA nominations, and the “Académie
Charles Cros – Coup de Cœur Musique Contemporaine” award.
Thomas Rosenkranz, Piano & Improvisation
Thomas Rosenkranz is a groundbreaking pianist who defies conventions and
pushes boundaries in his musical career. With equal prowess in traditional
repertoire, contemporary music, and improvisation, he has established himself
as one of the most inventive pianists of his generation.
Rosenkranz's talent has garnered international recognition, earning him the
prestigious Classical Fellowship Award from the American Pianists Association.
He has captivated audiences at renowned festivals including the Lincoln
Center Arts Festival, Amalfi Coast Festival (Italy), Rivello (Italy), Shanghai New
Music Festival (China), and the Carthage International Festival (Tunisia). As a
soloist, he has collaborated with esteemed orchestras such as the Indianapolis
Symphony, Beirut National Orchestra, and the Seattle Chamber Orchestra.
Notably, he was featured as a soloist during the groundbreaking tour of China
with Oberlin Conservatory.
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Rosenkranz is a passionate advocate for
artistic collaboration and diplomacy. As a Cultural Ambassador for the United
States Department of State, he has fostered cultural exchange and promoted
understanding in the Middle East and North Africa.
He has brought the beauty of classical music to unconventional places, performing in Bali and Borneo (Indonesia), Inner Mongolia, and throughout Yunnan Province (China). In 2022, he was honored as a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan, where he served as an artist-in-residence at Tunghai University, captivating audiences with his concerts, master classes, and lectures on American Music.
Currently serving as Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Coordinator at the University of Missouri-Kansas CIty Conservatory (UMKC) , he also holds the esteemed position of Honorary Guest Professor at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China He has been on faculty at the soundSCAPE Festival since 2006.
Joshua Rubin, Clarinet, Electronic Music Design & Performance
oshua Nathan Rubin served as the Program Director and then
Artistic Director of the International Contemporary Ensemble from
2011-2018, where he oversaw the creative direction of more than
one hundred concerts per season in the United States and
abroad. As a clarinetist, the New York Times has praised him as,
"incapable of playing an inexpressive note."
Joshua has worked closely with many of the prominent
composers and performers of our time, including George Crumb,
Matana Roberts, Alvin Lucier, David Lang, Chaya Czernowin, Du
Yun, Christian Wolff, Cory Smythe, George Lewis, Steven Schick,
Kaija Saariaho, Craig Taborn, Pauline Oliveros, Okkyung Lee,
Nathan Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, John Zorn, and Mario Davidovsky.
Joshua can be heard on recordings from the Nonesuch, Kairos,
New Focus, Mode, Cedille, Naxos, Bridge, New Amsterdam, and
Tzadik labels. His album There Never is No Light, available on the
Tundra label, highlights music that uses technology to capture the
human engagement of the performer and the listener.
This season he will perform on modern and historical clarinets in New York with the International Contemporary Ensemble, Teatro Nuovo, the American Composers Orchestra, at Harvard University, in Los Angeles with Wild Up, Monday Evening Concerts, Tesserae Baroque, at the Ojai Music Festival with Rhiannon Giddens, and in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Berlin, Miami, Boston, Houston, Kansas City, San Diego, and Chicago.
His clarinet studies were mentored by Lawrence McDonald, Mark Nuccio, and Steven Cohen. He served on the faculty of the Banff Music Centre's Ensemble Evolution summer program from 2016-2019. Rubin is on the faculty of soundSCAPE Festival and Ensemble Evolution. He serves on the faculty of the College of the Performing Arts at The New School and is Artist-in-Residence at University of California Santa Cruz in 2024.
Joshua holds degrees in Biology and Clarinet from Oberlin College and Conservatory, and a Master's degree from the Mannes School of Music.
His passion for technology in arts led Joshua to develop LUIGI, management software that is available to ensembles and other arts organizations who value transparency and collective management, as well as his ongoing work to make electronic music technologies easier to use for performers and composers. He maintains an artistic presence in New York and Los Angeles.
Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Composition
Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez was born in Mexico City in
1964 and now lives in the New York tundra, where he
chairs the Composition Department at the Eastman
School of Music. He studied with Jacob Druckman,
Martin Bresnick, Steven Mackey and Henri Dutilleux at
Yale, Princeton and Tanglewood, respectively. He has
received many of the standard awards in the field (e.g.
Barlow Prize, Guggenheim, Fulbright, Koussevitzky,
Fromm, American Academy of Arts and Letters.) He likes
machines with hiccups and spiders with missing legs,
looks at Paul Klee’s Notebooks everyday, and tries to
use the same set of ears to listen to Bach, Radiohead, or
Ligeti.
Staff
Nikki Joshi, Executive Director
Nikki Joshi is a percussionist and arts administrator based in
Boston, MA. She completed the 2018 Rebanks Family
Fellowship at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, ON. Nikki
holds a Master’s Degree from McGill University, and a
Bachelor’s Degree, Performer’s Certificate, and Arts
Leadership Certificate from the Eastman School of Music.
Nathanael May, Founder
Inspired by the music of our time, pianist Nathanael May seeks
to enlighten audiences around the world with innovative
performances, initiatives, and outreach. Noted for ‘quicksilver
grace’ (Fanfare), ‘outstanding performances’ (Classical Guitar),
and ‘highly developed touch and sound’ (Fuldaer Zeitung).
Nathanael founded soundSCAPE in 2005 (non-profit foundation
in 2014) and served as the artistic director until 2019. Dr. May
was appointed Chair of the School of Fine Arts at Missouri
Western State University in 2020, where he also lectures as a
Professor of Piano.
Participants
Niyayesh Bagheri, Composition
Niyayesh Bagheri is a composer and pianist from Iran
who is currently studying composition as an
undergraduate student at the Eastman School of
Music. Her music has been performed in the US,
Germany, and Iran. She is inspired by folklore songs
and modes from her country, the minimalism
movement, jazz music, nature, poetry, and mythology.
Other than composing, she enjoys playing and
improvising on Tanbur (a Persian instrument), learning
about audio music engineering and dancing.
Kyle Adam Blair, Piano
Lyricism, dissonance, and intricacy characterize the musical
interests of pianist Kyle Adam Blair. A contemporary music
specialist, his pianistic focuses include the creation of new
works in collaboration with composers, and the interpretation
of works from the American art music repertory of the
twentieth and twenty-first centuries, particularly music of
Elliott Carter, Aaron Copland, George Crumb, and Stuart
Saunders Smith.
Blair’s solo piano debut album Palm Sunday (2018) can be
heard on New World Records, and he has performed and
produced for releases from Bridge Records, Edgetone
Records, and more. Other released titles include Pós-Tudos –
12 Études for Piano Solo by Bruno Ruviaro (2017), No One Is
Trying to Kill You, Sweetheart with percussionist Chris Golinski
(Minderbinder, 2013), and WILD WOMEN with guitarist Boaz
Roberts (2019).
He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music Performance from UC San Diego in 2018 under the mentorship of Aleck Karis.
William Carriere, Sound Recording
Will Carriere is a multi-disciplinary sound artist, musician, and
researcher focusing on contemporary ethnomusicology as well as
composition and audio production for visual media. Recent credits
include the Sheridan College student film Who Is It? and multiple indie
games including Vandal, Ardente, and Go BIG or Go Home! He was
also the creative director and sound designer for ICU for the 2023
Toronto Game Jam. Will graduated from the University of Toronto’s
Faculty of Music where he achieved a degree in comprehensive
classical studies. He was the recipient of the University of Toronto
Scholars Program award in 2020 which allowed him to begin his
undergraduate studies in music and later received the Johnny
Lombardi Memorial Scholarship in 2023. His interest in culturally
diverse music has led to his participation in the UofT steel pan
ensemble and taiko drumming ensemble. Will’s research interests
cover a wide range of topics such as the global cultural exchange of
reggaeton music, the crossover of American musical theatre to South
Korea, and the affective potential of 3D audio in virtual reality.
Gael Castillo Jiménez, Percussion
Gael Castillo Jiménez is a percussion student in Universidad de
Guanajuato. He was born in Nuevo León, México and he started his
musical studies at secondary school, he played in the city band, and
played 2 years in a row in the youth state band. He was part of the
"Marching Band Azul y Oro" from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo
León, México, and he was 17 years old when he traveled to
Guanajuato, México to continue (in a more formal way) his studies.
He is part of a scholar percussion ensemble called "PercUG" and a
personal project with percussion friends called "Tenábaris". He has
played with León Philharmonic, and in a Disney Festival in Mexico.
Also in "Callejón del Ruido" festival 2 years in a row. Nowadays, he
is still studying his college degree with Dr. Iván Manzanilla.
Ben Caufield, Sound Recording
Ben Caufield is an audio engineer, producer, drummer,
and bandleader from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Recently completing his bachelor's in jazz and
contemporary music from MacEwan University in
Edmonton, he seeks to expand his skillset within the
music industry both as a player and as a recording
engineer.
Qianli Chen, Piano
Born in Fuzhou, China, Qianli Chen commenced his piano studies at
the age of 4 under his mother's guidance, and later under the
mentorship of Professor Yang Yifu and Professor Wu Xiao. In 2022,
he earned a Bachelor's degree in music from the Oberlin
Conservatory of Music, studying with Professor Robert Shannon.
Qianli has just completed his Master's degree at The Juilliard School
in this May, under the guidance of Shai Wosner and Stephen Hough.
As a pianist, Qianli has earned notable achievements, including the
third prize of the Wideman Competition in 2023; the First Prize of
the Arthur Dan Competition in 2022 and the First Prize at the 6th
Irmler International Piano Competition in 2019.
Britton-René Collins, Percussion
Britton-René Collins is an award-winning percussionist, a recipient of
the Princeton University Hodder Fellowship, and a winner of the 2020
Concert Artists Guild Competition. She was awarded CAG’s
Ambassador Prize for her exceptional musicianship and passion for
generating social change. A Grand-Prize winner of the Yamaha Young
Performing Artists Competition and the Chicago International Music
Competition, Britton-René has performed in North America and
Europe. Having made dozens of concerto appearances, including the
Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, she also
performs with her ensembles “Excelsis Percussion Quartet” and
“Vision Duo.” Britton-René is an Artist/Endorser for Vic Firth, Zildjian,
Marimba One, and Remo.
Cameron DeLuca, Clarinet
Cameron DeLuca is an American clarinetist who seeks to promote
all forms of new music. He has served as a regular member of the
Temple University Wind Symphony and CCM Philharmonia. He was
also a member of the Temple University New Music Ensemble,
where he appeared as a soloist and partook in premieres of new
works. He has attended Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro,
North Carolina (2018) and soundSCAPE Festival in Blonay,
Switzerland (2023 and 2024). His goal is to establish a university
level bass clarinet degree program, a recognition of the
instrument’s versatility and growing popularity in the United
States. Cameron holds a BM from Temple University and a MM
from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
His primary teachers include Eric Anderson, Paul Demers, and Ixi
Chen. In fall 2024, Cameron will begin his DMA studies at the
University of Washington as a student of Ben Lulich.
Delfin Demiray, Composer
Based in Philadelphia, Delfin is an aspiring composition student,
pianist, thinker, and a speaker. Delfin has been studying piano
since the age of 8 in the Bilkent Music Pre-College: She began her
composition studies at 16 and continues studying with Yiğit Aydın.
She also spent her time studying dramatic performance as a half
time student. Her photography and film critic newsletter were
recognized locally, and her photography was exhibited at Bilkent
University. She participated in conceptual and interdisciplinary art
exhibitions throughout high school and displayed conceptual art in
her newly blooming career. She’s currently a composition student
at the Curtis Institute studying with Nick DiBerardino, Amy Beth
Kirsten, Steven Mackey, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and Richard
Danielpour. She had a chance to participate in a workshop with
Imani Winds Quintet and also had an opportunity to participate in
masterclasses with Jessie Montgomery, George Lewis, and Derek
Bermel.
Weiyang Ding, Composition
Weiyang Ding is a composer from China currently based in New
York City. She has currently graduated from master program
studying composition at Mannes School of Music, and is now
pursuing PDPL program at the same school. Before entering
Mannes, she received her Bachelor's degree in architectural
design, and was trained as a pianist, vocalist, and clarinetist. She
has composed music in multiple genres since the age of 12. Within
years of music studying experience in China and the United
States, and having both composer and architect’s modes of
thinking, she sees music composition and photography as
alternative ways of actually speaking, and is interested in
observing beauty in the world as well as human behaviors.
Jinxin Fu, Composition
Jinxin Fu (born 1996) is a Chinese composer, sound designer, singer
and choral director. He is currently residing in the US pursuing his
master’s degree of music composition in Brigham Young University.
His music has been performed at Brevard Music Festival, Divergent
Studio, Atlantic Music Festival and ACDA Summer Choral Composers
Forum among others, and he is constantly receiving choral
commissions from university choirs in China. His upcoming premieres
feature collaborations with Mivos Quartet, Loadbang, and Brazilian
composer Rafaele Andrade on Knurl, a reprogrammable 16-string cello
running SuperCollider on its core designed by Rafaele. Jinxin Fu’s
compositions serve as a medium for storytelling, drawing inspiration
from diverse cultural perspectives, be it the indigenous voices or his
own keen observations. His artistic approach is influenced by both
macro cultural heritages and the micro sparkles of humanity, as well
as interdisciplinary topics. His electronic music includes limit-pushing
experimental use of L-ISA immersive hyperreal sound, a multi-speaker
immersive audio surround sound system.
Trik Gass, Percussion
Trik Gass is a young percussion performer
currently working on his Bachelors in Music
Performance at the University of Tennessee
Knoxville. He enjoys performing with other
performers as well as solo. His favorite
performance was with Ensemble Knox last year
performing Paddle to the Sea by Third Coast
Percussion.
Duncan Hall, Sound Recording
Duncan Hall is a Canadian composer of classical
music, film music, and works for a variety of
ensembles. His inspirations draw from his
experiences with the marching arts, his passion
for the sciences, and his eclectic taste in music.
Duncan’s music can be seen on the stage, the
screen, and recently has been used in video
games. To name a few, he has worked with G4
Productions, Emery Woods, animators from
Sheridan College, and the teams that brought
you Paw Pirates, Reminiscence, and
Magengaard. Compositions of his have a
distinctly fusional flavour. Combining his love of
jazz, classical, funk, and film among many other
genres, he creates something that is identifiably
his. He is also an avid participator in the marching
arts. Having completed 3 competitive seasons,
he now teaches at the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle
Corps as a visual instructor. You can learn more
at www.duncanhall.ca
Madeline Hocking, Violin
Hailing from Qathet, Canada, Madeline Hocking is a versatile
musician dedicated to championing contemporary music. As a
violinist, composer, and curator, she thrives on premiering new
works and engaging in interdisciplinary projects that fuse
improvisation and electronics. Madeline is a vital member of
the Semiosis Quartet, based in Boston, and co-founder of the
acclaimed Noise Catalogue collective in New York City. Her
commitment to innovation extends to her co-hosted concert
series, ‘Telematic Collisions’, which leverages cutting-edge
technology for interactive experiences.
Madeline’s impact resonates globally, with solo performances alongside prestigious orchestras like the American Composers Orchestra and appearances at renowned venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Her compositions have garnered attention across North America and Hungary. With a Bachelor's degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Master's in contemporary violin from Manhattan School of Music, Madeline continues to elevate the contemporary music scene with her passion and artistry.
Sicheng Huang, Composition
Sicheng Huang (b.2002, China) is a composer and pianist whose
music is rooted in the physicality of sound and experimenting with the
boundary of instruments. Inspired by abstract expressionism, his
music seeks to capture the different states presented between
materials, deconstructing timbers and colors and excavating the
underlying emotions within. He likes paintings of Mark Rothko and
Friedrich Einhoff and collects small sculptures of Noguchi. He is also a
passionate barista determined to share coffee culture and
experiences. Currently, he is pursuing a bachelor's degree at the
Eastman School of Music, where he studies with Ricardo Zohn
Muldoon, Robert Morris, and Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez. In 2020, His
Orchestral work <Silhouettes of Mountains> was commissioned and
performed by the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra in Cluj,
Romania. In 2021, his collaboration multimedia project <Dream of
Immersion> was selected by and participated in THE FEAT Exhibition
(Shanghai, China). In 2023, he was invited as the guest composer and
premiered his Mixed Quartet <Autumn Rhythm> in soundSCAPE
(Boloney, Switzerland).
Claire Latosinsky, Voice
Claire Latosinsky is a performer-researcher who loves to tell new
stories about and through music. In 2022 she graduated from the
University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Music in Voice
Performance in the studio of Wendy Nielsen. Claire also holds an
English major from that institution. Claire is an alumna of Songfest
(2019) and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity (2022); she also
spent a semester studying voice at the Sibelius Academy in
Helsinki, Finland (2020). Performance credits include: Mozart’s
Exsultate, Jubilate with the London Community Orchestra (2015);
soprano soloist in the premiere of Evan Tanovich’s Missa Solemnis
in D (2023); Music Toronto’s Celebration of Small Ensembles
(2023); and as a finalist in the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music
competition (2023). Claire is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in
Musicology at her alma mater, researching the identity politics of
Belle Époque singer, Eugénie Buffet.
Yixuan (Lisa) Ling, Composition
Yixuan (Lisa) Ling is a current composition student at
Eastman School of Music. She has studied with Carlos
Sanchez-Gutierrez, David Liptak, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon
and Robert Morris. She enjoys exploring everything
about sound, looking for withered beauty, open-world
game and listening to music from all times. She won the
Belle S.Gitelman composition award in 2023, and she
also has experience in sound recording and music
production.
James Lowrie, Composition
James Lowrie writes music at the intersection of pop, classical, and
experimental music traditions. As a composer he both celebrates
and interrogates genre conventions, putting commonly found
musical material under the microscope. The resultant music can be
described as psychedelic-modernist easy listening. Freesound,
Current Resonance, The FAWN Chamber Creative, ArrayMusic,
Quatuor Bozzini, The Berrow Duo, and Soundstreams have all
performed his works in concert. James Lowrie is the host and
creator of CBC's Composer Brain and the experimental comedy
music show Radio Haha at Toronto's Tranzac Club.
Asher Lurie, Composition
PAsher Lurie is a composer, performer, and songwriter
born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He is a senior at the
University of Miami Frost School of Music majoring in
Music Theory and Composition. Recently, Asher has
had the opportunity to write for Sandbox Percussion,
WindSync, arx duo, and the KHAOS Wind Quintet. He
has studied at Cortona Sessions, the Brevard Music
Festival, and the Atlantic Music Festival. Asher has
composed pieces for various instrumentations and
genres inspired by his education in rock, metal, and
classical music. He is passionate about collaborating
with musicians, expanding his musical knowledge, and
writing music that merges the aggression of the
modern world with the beauty of humankind.
Daniel Matei, Percussion
Daniel Matei is a New York based Hungarian-Romanian
percussionist, composer, improviser with a keen interest in the
collaborative and ever-evolving nature of music. He has
recently performed with ensembles such as Sō Percussion,
Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, Contemporaneous, Talujon,
TACETi, Tactus, The Orchestra Now, and participated in a
project with the New Chamber Ballet, at venues including
Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, DiMenna Center, Jazz at Lincoln
Center, Opera America, MASS MoCA, The Clark Institute, and
Banff Centre for the Arts. Daniel is a recent graduate of
Manhattan School of Music’s Contemporary Performance
Program, where he studied percussion with David Cossin and
John Ferrari, and composition with Reiko Füting. He received
his BM and BA from Bard College, where he studied with
members of Sō Percussion. These days he is most excited
about Noise Catalogue, an ensemble he co-founded that won
the 2023 Dwight and Ursula Mamlok Junior Award.
Instagram: @daniel.matei.sound
Website: www.danielmatei.com ; www.noisecatalogue.com
Julius Mauldin, Conducting Fellow
Japanese-American conductor Julius Akira Mauldin is a
conductor based in New York City. A Julius Rudel
Conducting Fellow, Julius is a cover conductor for the
Buffalo Philharmonic and JoAnn Falletta. Julius is also
the Founder and Artistic Director of the Westside
Chamber Players, a New York based chamber
orchestra, and is currently in their second season.
Passionate about new music, and particularly works by
Asian American composers, Julius often engages with
composers, and has given the premiers for many
pieces including Martinu Prize-winning pieces A Truth
Within and Live Salmon by Jiaying Li and Arjan Singh
Dogra.
An accomplished choral musician, Julius has participated in many major productions, including performances with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, and as a featured soloist in a Lincoln Center production of Berg’s Wozzeck with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the London Philharmonia Orchestra. In Fall of 2024, Julius will begin his MMus in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music studying with Mark Heron and Clark Rundell.
Yuxuan Minerva Chen., Piano
A keen advocate for contemporary music, Yuxuan continues to
captivate audiences with artistry and dedication to pushing the
boundaries of traditional concert repertoires. She has premiered
ensemble works by Julia Wolfe’s graduate students with NYU CME,
conducted by Jonathan Haas, and Mads Emil Dreyer’s Bølger at
IRCAM Forum @NYU. She also performed Peter Maxwell Davies’
Eight Songs for a Mad King at Mannes and explored extended
techniques in Liberatore’s Hold Back Thy Hours with the Oberlin
Sinfonietta, conducted by Tim Weiss. She has recently won piano
competition prizes such as 1st prize in the Graves Piano Solo &
Ensemble Competition, 3rd place in the Tuesday Musical 68th Annual
Scholarship Competition, and the Diamond Prize and Masterful
Interpreters Special Award in the Royale Music Competition. She will
pursue DMA in piano performance at Stony Brook University from Fall
2024 with Dr. Christina Dahl, where she is appointed as a Teaching
Assistant.
Anna Mueller, Percussion
Anna Mueller is a seasoned percussionist in the Michigan area. Playing
with symphony orchestras such as the Adrian Symphony, Jackson
Symphony, Flint Symphony, Detroit Metro Symphony, and Toledo
Symphony, she has been a prominent orchestral performer in the
Michigan music scene. She currently is in her third year at the
University of Michigan studying for a Bachelor of Music, studying
under Doug Perkins, Ian Antonio, Jeremy Epp, and Tom Sherwood.
Jessica Ozon, Sound Recording
Jessica Ozon is a Canadian audio engineer, musician, and composer
from St. John’s, Newfoundland. She recently graduated from Memorial
University of Newfoundland and holds a Bachelor of Music (hons.) with
a major in composition. Jessica began working as an audio engineer
during her time as a student at MUN, and has had the opportunity to
record and mix everything from solo guitar to full orchestra for student
audition videos, live events, and other non-classical projects. She has
worked as an assistant engineer for recordings of the Newfoundland
Symphony Orchestra, the Tuckamore Music Festival, and Leaf Music.
Outside her composition and recording work, Jessica teaches private
piano lessons at Intervals Music Studio and holds a position as an organ
scholar at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. She also looks
forward to participating in the Tuckamore Festival’s Young Composer
program this August in her hometown.
Siobhan Plouffe, Sound Recording
Siobhan Plouffe, from Rochester, NY, is currently pursuing a
Doctorate in Saxophone Performance at Arizona State
University under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Creviston
where she also completed her Master's in Saxophone
Performance. Siobhan completed her undergraduate degrees
at the Eastman School of Music and the University of
Rochester in Saxophone Performance and Audio and Music
Engineering, respectively. Siobhan is a founding member of
Kodachrome, a multi award-winning saxophone quartet that
has placed first in the 10th Coltman Chamber Music
Competition, 10th Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and
received the Gold Medal at the 50th Fischoff Chamber Music
Competition. Siobhan has performed extensively across the
U.S. as well as internationally in Switzerland and China. As an
engineer, Siobhan has recorded a wide variety of musicians
and genres, has produced for award winning chamber groups
and has worked in audio software as a member of the Core
Audio team at Apple.
Sophie Reimer-Epp, Violin
Sophie Reimer-Epp is a Canadian violinist with a passion for
orchestral playing, chamber music, and contemporary music. She is
currently completing her Bachelor of Music with a major in Violin
Performance at the University of Toronto with Dr. Timothy Ying. She
has extensive orchestral and ensemble experience from her years in
the Winnipeg Youth Orchestras, the University of Ottawa Orchestra,
and the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, as well as the
contemporary ensemble the Blank Canvas Sound Collective and
numerous chamber ensembles. Sophie was honoured with the
position of concertmaster and section leader in several of these
ensembles. She has also had the privilege of working with a wide
variety of North America and Europe's most renowned violin
teachers, including Vadim Gluzman, Timothy Chooi, Cho-Liang Lin,
and Olivier Charlier, which has informed her personal performance
style.
Alyssa Samuels, Sound Recording
I study music at York University and am in my 4th year there.
Currently I am focused on music composition and music engineering
rather than performance. So I have not touched any of my
instruments in a while. However when I did play, I played piano and
violin. I have other interests such as art, photography and video
making as well and hope to get better at it with more practice!
Mafalda Santos, Cello
Portuguese cellist Mafalda Santos brings to the stage her engaging
personality and desire to share music and stories with audiences all over
the world. As the winner of over 20 awards from prestigious
competitions, she has performed in acclaimed venues such as the Royal
Albert Hall and Berliner Philharmoniker. Since her debut with the FIME
Ensemble at the age of fourteen, Mafalda has performed as a soloist
with symphony orchestras in Europe and the United States. As an avid
chamber musician, Mafalda has participated in renowned chamber music
series and festivals. Passionate about exploring the impact of classical
music in society, Mafalda collaborates with numerous organizations
across the US to create innovative and inclusive concerts. Mafalda holds
degrees in Cello Performance and Musicology from the Peabody
Conservatory, where she studied with Amit Peled on a full scholarship.
She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Yale
University, studying with Paul Watkins as a George W. Miles fellowship
recipient.
Sophia Sorrentino, Voice
Soprano Sophia Carmella Sorrentino realized her path
toward new music after performing as Adela in the world
premiere of Griffin Candey’s La Casa de Bernarda Alba.
Sophia has performed as Solo Voice in Family Adventures
Volume 2 by Josh Schmidt and Royce Vavrek, as Enyo in
We’ve Got Our Eye on You by Nkeiru Okoye and David Cote,
and as Poppea in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea.
She’s also made her graduate school debut as Danica in Ana
Sokolović’s Svadba. Sophia is a member of the Dayton C.
Miller Honor Society and a proud alumnus of the Mu Phi
Musicianship and Academic Fraternity. After receiving her
B.M. in vocal performance at Baldwin Wallace University,
Sophia is now a second-year master’s student studying
under Ah Young Hong, focused on furthering her knowledge
and experience in new music at the Peabody Institute of
Johns Hopkins University.
Julian Stuart-Burns, Composition
Julian Stuart-Burns is a composer and pianist from Brooklyn, New
York whose music focuses on transformation, sharp and
unexpected contrast, and the evocation of memory and
reminiscence. He is studying composition in the M.A. program at
Eastman School of Music, having received his bachelor’s degree in
Fundamentals: Issues and Texts from the University of Chicago.
He has worked at the New York Philharmonic as an assistant in the
Archives and Exhibitions department, curating exhibits for the
Gary Parr and Bruno Walter galleries in David Geffen Hall. His
music has been premiered at Kilbourn Hall and Hatch Recital Hall
in Rochester, Field Recital Hall in Chicago, and Pickman Concert
Hall in Cambridge, MA. He has studied composition with Carlos
Sanchez-Gutierrez, Robert Morris, Augusta Read Thomas,
Dongryul Lee, and Anthony Cheung, and electronic music with
Mikel Kuehn and Ted Moore. He is also an acclaimed pianist,
having performed recently in solo piano showcases and in
ensembles with Eastman’s Musica Nova and OSSIA New Music.
Julian has written for loadbang, Mivos Quartet, and the Eastman
Graduate Composers’ Sinfonietta.
Leah Thomas, Clarinet
Leah is a clarinettist from Aotearoa (New Zealand) now based in
New York City to complete a Masters of Arts Entrepreneurship and
Management at the New School. In 2023, Leah received a
Fulbright Graduate Award to support her studies. Leah currently
performs in the New School’s International Contemporary
Ensemble and Delicious Bass clarinet choir. She has performed
with the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band, the NZ National Youth
Orchestra, the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, and the Gemini
Clarinet Quintet. Leah is passionate about new music. In Aotearoa,
she produced a music series, Pōneke Sessions, and an
independent orchestra called Gallery Orchestra. Gallery Orchestra
has recorded several EPs and won "Best Musical Act" at the New
Zealand FRINGE festival. Leah also has a background in law, arts
administration, radio hosting, and grass-roots organising. The
focus of Leah’s advocacy and research is campaigning for basic
income for artists and supporting platforms that challenge the
“status quo” in classical music-making.
Leah Thomas has received a Freemasons Lankhuyzen/Whetu
Kairangi Music Award to support her participation in
soundSCAPE.
Daniel Virgen, Composition
Dan Virgen (b. 2002) is a multi-instrumentalist and
composer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, studying at
Temple University with Dr. William Dougherty. His music
aims to create a sonic amalgamation drawing from
classical and contemporary traditions. In 2022, Dan won
the Chester County Concert Band Composition
Competition with his piece, Blue Jay. His music has also
been performed by the Temple University New Music
Ensemble, ConTemplum, Temple Composer’s Orchestra,
and the Philadelphia Composer’s Orchestra. Working
closely with his peers, he has written for various chamber
ensembles and is currently working on a full-length album.
As a performer, Dan plays double bass, tuba, and
euphonium with various ensembles. When he is not on
stage, Dan can be found at basement shows performing
with different bands, embracing the raw energy and
innovative techniques that define the DIY music scene in
Philadelphia.
Leah Wenger, Voice
Leah Wenger is a performer and musicologist based in Baltimore,
Maryland where she received masters degrees in Historical
Performance Voice and Musicology. She is a versatile solo and
ensemble performer with a vocal repertoire that spans from the
Medieval Era to the 21st century and she takes inspiration from
many musical traditions. Recent work includes performing Betty
Olivero’s chamber work En la Mar Hai una Torre under the direction
of Dr. Beth Willer (2023), the role of Gloria in Handel’s O Come
chiare e belle with the Virginia Baroque Academy (2023), chorus
roles in Blow’s Venus and Adonis with Peabody’s Opera department
(2023), and as a soloist in David Lang’s Love Fail with Peabody
Camerata. Leah is a member of the 2023-2024 cohort for Talks with
TENET. Internationally, she has participated in the MWC
International Choir as one of two representing North America
(2022), Opera Programs Berlin Historical Performance Institute
(2020), and a Karnatic Vocal Music Institute in Southern India
(2018). Leah enjoys rigorous musicological research alongside her
performance pursuits. Leah earned her BS in Vocal Performance
and Psychology from Eastern Mennonite University. Leah’s hobbies
include exploring new libraries and coffee shops, writing poetry, and
finding the nearest waterfalls.
Saba Yousefi, Violin
Saba Yousefi is an Iranian-Canadian violinist, educator,
administrator, and co-founder of LyreIran, an
organization dedicated to providing free and accessible
educational content for music students worldwide, with a
particular focus on the Middle East. She holds a Master
of Violin Performance and a Bachelor of Violin
Performance with a minor in Philosophy from the
University of Toronto. Saba has dedicated her research
to exploring new methods for professional musicians to
overcome physical injuries and develop innovative mental
health techniques. Saba’s diverse musical background
includes performing as both a soloist and chamber
musician across Canada, the Middle East, and China.
With a deep commitment to contemporary music, she actively engages with new works by contemporary composers from around the world. Her passion for modern repertoire was recently showcased in her April performance at Salle Bourgie Hall in Montreal, where she featured contemporary pieces by Iranian women composers. This concert was a testament to her dedication to bringing fresh, innovative sounds to the stage and showcasing the richness of contemporary music. Looking ahead, Saba is currently developing her concert schedule for 2024, and she has recently completed a successful training course in fundraising within the art industry, further expanding her skill set and ensuring her continued contribution to the arts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabayousefi_violin/
Website: https://www.sabayousefiviolin.com/
Yue Yin Zhang, Percussion
Yue Yin Zhang is a Chinese Canadian percussionist currently
completing a Master’s degree in classical percussion performance
program at the University of Toronto, studying with Aiyun Huang,
Beverley Johnston and Charles Settle. Yue Yin holds a bachelor degree
in Classical percussion performance, studied with Fabrice Marandola,
Ben Reimer, Kristie Ann Ibrahim, Alexandre Lavoie and Shawn
Mativetsky at Schulich School of Music McGill University. Yue Yin
participated in the Shanghai Teenage Symphony Orchestra at an early
age. During her middle school stage, as a percussionist, she
participated in the shows in Lac-St-Jean, Quebec, Germany, United
Kingdom and France with Ecole Secondaire Dorval Jean-XXIII
Orchestra. She attended the Camp de Blue, and performed vibraphone
at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2017. Yue Yin won first place twice in
the Canadian Music Competition-Keyboard Percussion at age of 16 and
17. She was granted McGill excellence awards from 2019 to 2022.
soundSCAPE Festival 2023-2024 Donors
Anonymous
Christopher Paul Harman
Florence D. Hafter Family Foundation Muzik 3 Foundation Inc.
Rand Steiger
Thank you for your support!