A Champion For New Music

By Dan Margolies,

Published July 29, 2021 at 8:38 AM CDT

Members of newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble performing during a May 2021 virtual performance at St. Pauls Episcopal Church. — Members of newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble performing during a May 2021 virtual performance at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Dan Margolies speaks with Scott Steele, executive director of the newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, about their composition contest. Joining Scott are two of the contest winners, Akshaya Avril Tucker and Ben Stevenson. We'll hear their music as well as music by local high school student Andrew Schnake, one of the winners in the student division.

Host

Dan Margolies

Guests

Scott Steele, newEar Artistic Director and Vice President
Ben Stevenson, composition contest winner
Akshaya Avril Tucker, composition contest winner

Program

Enough, to Unfold
by Akshaya Avril Tucker
Christina Webster - flute, Sharra Wagner - clarinet, Kevin Clarke - percussion, Charles Dickinson - piano, Zsolt Eder - violin, Sascha Groschang - cello

Lore
by Ben Stevenson
Christina Webster - flute, Sharra Wagner - clarinet, Charles Dickinson - piano, Zsolt Eder - violin, Sascha Groschang - cello

Despondency in Silence
by Andrew Schnake
Christina Webster - flute, Sharra Wagner - clarinet, Kevin Clarke - percussion, Charles Dickinson - piano, Zsolt Eder - violin, Sascha Groschang - cello

Broken Momentum
by Cole Reyes
Sharra Wagner - clarinet, Charles Dickinson - piano, Zsolt Eder - violin, Sascha Groschang - cello

These performances are from a May 2021 virtual concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, recorded by Bob Beck and filmed by Scott Munsch.

You can view all of these performances and learn more about newEar at newear.org.

You can learn more about Akshaya Avril Tucker at akshayatucker.com and Ben Stevenson at bstevensoncomposer.com