New Commission and Contemporary Music Festival

I have been invited to participate in the Loretto Project, a new contemporary music festival here in Kentucky by the New York piano trio, LONGLEASH. They created a kickstarter to alleviate some of the costs of transportation, housing, and meals for the composers and performers, as well as the free concert series that is open to the public.  Below is a little more about the festival:

The Loretto Project

The Loretto Project (August 11-15) is a celebration of adventurous new music at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, KY. The project includes a composition seminar led by Composer-In-Residence NILS VIGELAND, a public masterclass with MARC SATTERWHITE, 3 public performances, and a composition commission. Longleash (piano trio) will serve as project leaders and ensemble-in-residence. Inspired by the rich history of American contemporary music – music with deep roots in Kentucky and beyond — we are very excited to explore this tradition at Loretto, and in doing so, help establish an artistic dialogue across state lines, generations, and creative communities.

JOIN THE LORETTO PROJECT KICKSTARTER!

Kickstarter

Our creative goals: 

  • to establish an annual musical exchange between our Kentucky and New York based audiences, and to reach new listeners in both communities
  • to share diverse and exciting contemporary music with these audiences by supporting the work of NY and KY based working composers and the next generation of student composers
  • to provide a meaningful cultural service to the central Kentucky region through high-quality, adventurous, and thoughtful programming

About the Motherhouse Facilities: Founded in the early 1800′s, the Loretto Motherhouse is the spiritual center of the Sisters of Loretto. It is located in central Kentucky, about an hour drive from Louisville. The Motherhouse includes a working farm, beautiful brick buildings, and an operational retreat center. Students and Artist Residents will be housed in the Academy building, and all activities and meals will take place on the grounds.

A video of the LONGLEASH trio performing Phantasmagoria by Bent Sørensen

Graduation and Cephalophore

Two years go by in a blink of an eye! As of a month ago I have completed my Master of Music degree at the University of Louisville. The site was pretty quiet for the last 7 months as I feverishly worked on a million projects including my thesis, a chamber opera titled Cephalophore. Last weekend it was premiered by the Thompson Street Opera Company here in Louisville, Kentucky.