Musica Nova

About Musica Nova

Musica Nova specializes in the presentation of new and recent music. Its instrumentation varies from concert to concert depending on the selection of repertoire, which may include anything from electroacoustic music, to solo pieces to chamber music requiring eight or more players. Musica Nova, in collaboration with the UMKC Conservatory Composition program, also regularly brings internationally known composers and performers to campus, featuring them on concerts and in master classes. Each fall the ensemble features a concert of works by UMKC current and past faculty and alumni. All scores purchased for Musica Nova are deposited in the Miller Nichols Library for all students at the Conservatory to study.

Directors

Zhou Long, Director
Nicholas S. Omiccioli, Assistant Musical Director
Kristin Shafel, Assistant Administrative Director

Auditions

Auditions are held at the beginning of each academic year. The prospective member should be prepared to play a piece of his/her choice (composed after 1900, since 1945 is preferred) and sight-read a short excerpt of music. This helps determine player ranking and scholarship awards. All students interested in performing new music are encouraged to audition.

2007-2008 Concert Calendar
(All concerts are at 7:30 p.m. in White Hall with FREE admission)

October 4, 2007:

Featuring the music of UMKC Composition Faculty with special guests the Kansas City Chorale, the Conservatory Singers, and cello professor Carter Enyeart

November 29, 2007:

Special guest pianist Hsing-ay Hsu performing the music of Ezra Laderman

February 6, 2008:

Featuring works of the 2008 Chamber Music Composition Competition finalists

April 10, 2008:

Special guest composer and pianist John Psathas

Selected Repertoire

5 Machines (2000) by Marc Mellits
Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1976) by Brian Bevelander
Scrimshaw (1985) by Daniel S. Godfrey
Illusion (2007) by Zhou Long
The Best Medicine (2007) by Paul Rudy
Torrid Mix (2006) by Mike McFerron
Workers Union (1975) by Louis Andriessen
Vox Inhumana (2005) by James Mobberley
Oracle (2001-04) by Chinary Ung
The Human Abstract (2005) by Martin Bresnick (world premiere)
Enchanted Bamboo, Op. 18 (1989, 1990) by Xiaogang Ye
Psalm XXIII, Op. 37 (1945) by Paul Creston
Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (2005) by Margaret Brouwer
Double, Double (1987) by Deborah Kavasch
Phoenix (2003) by Xu Changjun
Happy Rain on a Spring Night (2004) by Chen Yi
The Lover in Winter (1989) by Thomas Ades
Bronze Veils (1980) by Libby Larson
Flavour of Bashu (1995) by Jia Daqun
Wild Nights (1993) by Steven Montague

Recent Highlight Events

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art "Silent Cinema Series" collaboration

Kemper Museum (10/28/2007) and Grant Recital Hall (11/9/2007) UMKC graduate student composers Lee Hartman, Jon Robertson, and Nihan Yesil scored music for the 1920 silent film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for the Kemper Museum's "Silent Cinema Series", performed by members of Musica Nova

2007 Society of Composers, Inc. Region VI Conference: Featured Guest Ensemble

University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg, MO (2/9/2007) Featuring the music of SCI Region VI composers Christopher Biggs, Martin Bresnick, Eric Honour, Xin-Yan Li, Nicholas S. Omiccioli, Hsiao-Lan Wang, and Craig Weston

Hosted special guest artist Rolf Schulte, violin (12/7/2006)

Featuring contemporary violin music by Elliott Carter, Mario Davidovsky, Donald martino, and Richard Wilson

UMKC's celebration of composer Paul Creston & artist Henry Moore (10/4/2006)

A series of events in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Paul Creston, presented by the Barr Institute, the Miller Nichols Library, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and Musica Nova. Our concert featured the music of Paul Creston, with guest faculty artists Tim Timmons, saxophone, Rebecca Sherburn-Bly, soprano, Patricia Higdon, piano, and members of the UMKC Conservatory Dance Department

Hosted special guests the Kansas City Chorale (1/19/2006)

Featuring music by Jean Belmont, Chen Yi, Susan Kander, Gerald Kemner, Paul Rudy, Steven Stucky, Zhou Long, and Jim Mobberley.
The KCC sang music by all KC composers in that concert