New Music Ensembles in Tampa Bay

Since moving to the Tampa Bay area, I have been working hard to learn more about the music scene down here. Boston has an amazing music scene, and I was worried that I would really miss out on performances in Florida. Turns out that's not the case at all!

Here's an alphabetical list of the new music ensembles I have found thus far. As I learn about more, I will update the list. If you are aware of an ensemble I missed, leave a note in the comments, and I will check it out.

• New-Music Consortium at USF - according to their website "a student-run organization, based in the Music Composition Department at University of South Florida’s School of Music. The goal of the New-Music Consortium is to produce concerts of contemporary music at the University of South Florida and throughout the local community. All concerts produced by the NMC are free of charge, and feature acoustic and electronic compositions that are not typically programmed in the Tampa Bay area."
  

• Reflections Chamber Ensemble - primarily comprised of musicians who perform with the Florida Orchestra, the mission of the Reflections Chamber Ensemble is "to perform and encourage the composition of music for the core ensemble."
  

• Sunshine City Opera - Located in St. Petersburg, FL, Sunshine City Opera specializes in performing new and less-frequently heard opera repertoire. 
  

• Venture Compound - as described on their Facebook page, the Venture Compound is the gallery/perf space of the Pangaea Project, a non-profit org for experimental and emerging artists and arts exploring new ideas. Their specialty is "avant garde, electronic and experimental artists, musicians, dancers, performance artists, et cetera." 
  
• University of South Florida (USF) New Music Festival - From what I can tell this is the second new music festival put on by the USF School of Music and curated by USF Assistant Professor of Composition Baljinder Sekhon. Thus far, the festival has taken place every two years, and features free concerts of new music from around the world.

Sunshine City Opera seeks a soprano

St. Petersburg, FL's newest opera company seeks a soprano. Auditions June 4! Here's the details.

Sunshine City Opera seeks an experienced soprano who loves performing new music for voice. Scheduled auditions will be held on Saturday June 4 at USF in Tampa. Stipend available.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
2 contrasting arias: at least 1 in English and at least 1 composed after 1913.
Current resume & headshot
Auditionees will be presented with a brief rhythmic sight-reading example.

To schedule an audition, please email operainsunshinecity@gmail.com

For more information: https://sites.google.com/site/sunshinecityopera

Tampa Bay Flute Choir Concert upcoming on May 22 at 3pm

The Tampa Bay Flute Choir will be performing my arrangement of Armed Forces Salute in about a month.

Their concert takes place at the Allendale United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg on Sunday May 22, 2016 at 3pm. Reception with tasty food to follow the concert. From what I understand, admission is free too!

Here's the full concert program:

The Mayflower Suite, by Catherine McMichael
Cross the Wide Missouri, by Kelly Via
The Appalachian Suite, by Kelly Via
Civil War Suite, arranged by Nancy W. Wood
Armed Forces Salute, arranged by Erin Huelskamp
America The Beautiful, arranged by Kelly Via

10 Block Walk Scene 7 Complete

Yesterday, I sent a fresh copy of Scene 7 from my second opera The Ten-Block Walk over to the librettist, Christie Lee Gibson. This is the fun part of the process. I like sharing the new scenes with Christie and hearing her feedback. There are always bits to change and improve, and, this time, I am especially eager to have a singer and pianist take a look at it.

I wrote the movement in a sort of short score fully understanding that no single pianist in the world could play all the parts. After reducing the score down for piano and voice, I am interested to see the elements that come through in the reduction. More on that soon...

In this scene, the Old Woman walks by a graveyard, and she ponders her remaining time on earth. It's a little dark but also uplifting, and I think the music reflects those emotions.

Here's a small sample:

Juventas 10 Years Celebration Video

Check it out. I made a video with a slide show celebrating Juventas and their success in making it as a professional ensemble for 10 years! Comment if you like it. Thanks!

New Arrangement of Armed Forces Salute for Tampa Bay Flute Choir

Last week, I finished a new arrangement for flute choir. Armed Forces Salute, originally for concert band, is now available for flute ensemble as well as a version for flute ensemble plus percussion.

The Tampa Bay Flute Choir requested the arrangement, and they will perform it in their upcoming concert on May 22, 2016. More soon on the details of the concert.

Here is the first page of the original score:

And here is a one-page sample of the arrangement I made:

I hope to see you at the concert!

Connecting in Florida

Last month, we relocated to St. Petersburg, FL. If you happen to be nearby, please reach out! Can't wait to see you in the sunshine state.