Composition
MARCELA PAVIA
Marcela Pavia received her Masters in Composition at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Argentina), and also in Electronic Music at the Milan Conservatory. She has participated in courses and seminars with Donatoni, Ligeti, Morricone, Pousseur and Torres Maldonado. She was Artist in residence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (USA) and at the Aargauer Kuratorium in Switzerland. Awards include SONOM, Erasmus Competition Universitè VIII (Paris), “Trinac”, and the “Miriam Gideon” Prize among others.
DANIEL PESCA
Daniel Pesca is both a passionate advocate for new music and a committed performer of the chamber music repertoire. He has shared the stage with many leading new music ensembles, including Ensemble Signal, the Slee Sinfonietta, Dal Niente, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, and the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. He has recently performed at the Library of Congress, the Kennedy Center, Columbia University’s Miller Theatre, the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara, on the Dame Myra Hess concerts, at June in Buffalo, and at festivals devoted to contemporary music in Spain, Italy, and Greece. Daniel is featured on recordings from Block M Records and Urtext Classics—including a performance of Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez’s piano concerto, Diaries, dedicated to Daniel. His recording of the music of Joseph Schwantner, with flutist Sarah Frisof, was released on Centaur Records in July 2016. He holds a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music, where he led a class on contemporary keyboard music and studied piano with Nelita True. He now serves as Director of Chamber Music and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Chicago, and will be a visiting professor at Ithaca College in Spring 2017.
RICARDO ZOHN-MULDOON, director of composition
The music of Mexican-born composer Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon is characterized by its refined sculpting, “kaleidoscopic” counterpoint, and lyricism. Mexican literature has provided the point of departure for many of his compositions, such as the scenic cantata Comala, which was selected as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011. His works have been performed and recorded internationally. He is currently Associate Professor of Composition at the Eastman School of Music.
Performance
TONY ARNOLD, soprano
Soprano Tony Arnold is recognized internationally as a leading proponent of new music. “Simply put, she is a rock-star in this genre” (Sequenza 21). Member of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Soloist with Ensemble Modern, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, L.A. Philharmonic. Festival appearances include Darmstadt, Cervantino, Lucerne, Santa Fe, Tongyeong, Witten. Collaborations with Crumb, Furrer, Kurtág, Aperghis, Lang. Premiered over 200 works; has over 25 recordings including a Grammy nomination. Taught at SUNY Buffalo, Eastman.
LISA CELLA, flute
A champion of contemporary music and Associate Professor at UMBC, Lisa Cella performs throughout the United States and abroad. She is a founding member of new music ensemble NOISE, the flute duo inHale, and the flute and cello duo C2. She is a faculty member of the Soundscape Festival of Contemporary Music in Maccagno, Italy. She received degrees from Syracuse University, Peabody Conservatory, and the University of California, San Diego.
FELIX FAN, cello
Felix Fan’s versatility has made him one of the most sought after cellists of his generation. As a chamber musician, he has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham and Janos Starker, in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Musikverein and Royal Festival Hall. Fan’s recent solo engagements include the San Diego and Pacific Symphonies, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Macau Symphony Orchestra and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. In 2006, Fan and violinist Cho-Liang Lin recorded Gordon Chin’s Double Concerto with Michael Stern and the Kansas City Symphony (Naxos).
MARK FEWER, violin
Bio coming soon
DIETER HENNINGS, guitar
Dieter Hennings is director of guitar studies at the University of Kentucky. He has won several prestigious competitions including the 2008 Aaron Brock International Guitar Competition, 2005 Eastman Guitar Concerto Competition, the 2002 Villa de Petrer, Alicante (Spain) International Competition, the 2001 Portland Guitar Competition. Has recorded for Bridge, Nonesuch, Parma, Bridge and Quindecim labels. Member of Duo Damiana with Grammy-winner flutist Molly Barth.
AIYUN HUANG, percussion
Aiyun Huang enjoys a musical life as soloist, chamber musician, researcher, teacher and producer. She was the First Prize and the Audience Award winner at the Geneva International Music Competition in 2002. A champion of new music, Aiyun has premiered over 100 works over the last two decades internationally. She holds the position of Associate Professor in Percussion and was recently appointed a William Dawson Scholar at McGill University.
THOMAS ROSENKRANZ, piano
Hailed as “One of the best new music performers around” (American Record Guide), Thomas Rosenkranz enjoys a musical life as a soloist, chamber musician, and artist teacher. Since winning the Classical Fellowship Award from the American Pianists Association, his concert career has taken him to four continents. He is currently an Associate Professor of Piano at the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University.
Guest Artists
EASTMAN BROADBAND, ensemble in residence
BroadBand is a flexible ensemble based in Rochester, New York, featuring current students and recent alumni of the Eastman School of Music. Composer applicants selected to write for BroadBand will be notified by January 15, 2017.
LINDSAY BUFFINGTON, harp
Bio coming soon
TINA CHANG, collaborative piano
Bio coming soon
CHRIS PAUL HARMAN, composition
Harman’s works have been performed by the Asko Ensemble, Noordhollands Philharmonisch, London Philharmonia Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and Tokyo Symphony, among others. He has received awards of distinction in the CBC Radio National Competition, Gaudeamus International MusicWeek, and the Jules Léger Prize. Since 2005, he has served as a professor at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal.
JENN KIRBY, irish artist in residence
Bio coming soon
MICHAEL LEWANSKI, conducting
Conductor, educator, writer Michael Lewanski is a champion of new music and older repertoire alike. His work seeks to create progressively deeper connections between audiences, performers, and the music that is part of their culture and history. He is conductor of Ensemble Dal Niente and professor of instrumental ensembles at the DePaul University School of Music. His guest conducting has recently involved the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra; he has recorded for New Amsterdam, New Focus, New World, and Carrier Records. A native of Savannah, Georgia, he began conducting at 13. At 16, he was the youngest-ever student in Ilya Musin’s class at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He attended Yale University; he subsequently studied with Cliff Colnot and Lucas Vis.
CARLOS SANCHEZ-GUTIERREZ, composition
Composer Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez was born in 1964, grew up in Mexico, and is Professor and Chair of Composition at the Eastman School of Music. He studied with Jacob Druckman and Martin Bresnick at Yale, Steven Mackey at Princeton, and with Henri Dutilleux at Tanglewood. He has received awards from the Barlow, Guggenheim, Fulbright, Koussevitzky, and Fromm foundations, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Carlos co-directs the Eastman BroadBand Ensemble.
DARIO SAVRON, percussion
Bio coming soon
CHRISTIAN SMITH, percussion
Bio coming soon
Staff
NATHANAEL MAY, founder and artistic director
As a festival producer, concert organizer, recording artist, consultant, educator, and pianist, Nathanael May seeks to open doors for musicians in today’s competitive marketplace. He performs widely as a member of the Strung Out Trio and was awarded the American Prize for solo performance in 2012. Additional recognitions include the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award from UW-Whitewater and awards for Service-Leadership and Faculty Scholarship from MWSU. He teaches an associate professor at Missouri Western State University.
CALEB FANKHAUSER, audio intern
Bio coming soon
SKY LUX, audio intern
Bio coming soon
JAMIE LEIGH SAMPSON, executive director
Jamie Leigh Sampson is a bassoonist, composer, author, and entrepreneur. She is the author of Contemporary Techniques for the Bassoon: Multiphonics and has presented her compositions and research at internationally respected conferences and festivals. Jamie is an instructor at SUNY Fredonia.
AARON CRAWFORD, head recording engineer
Bio and website coming soon
CURTIS RUMRILL, web design
The music of Curtis Rumrill explores the intersection of literary form and modern chamber music. His works with writer, naturalist and visual artist Webberly Ebberly Finnich (née Zachary Webber) tell stories of animals in desperate or violent predicaments. He is also the composer of instrumental chamber music with and without electronics, works for tape, and studio compositions.