New Music Ensemble performing at Detroit marathon concert

Students from the award-winning New Music Ensemble at Grand Valley will perform among nationally renowned artists and composers during New Music Detroit’s eighth annual Strange Beautiful Music Concert, Saturday, September 19.

This will be the ensemble’s fifth time performing at the “marathon concert,” which will take place from 4 p.m.-midnight at the Fisher Music Center in Detroit.

The New Music Ensemble will debut a new project entitled, “Music in their Words.” For the project, the group commissioned eight composers to write works that combine music with the spoken words of important 20th century composers, such as James Brown, Steve Reich, Joan Tower and Meredeth Monk, among others.

Bill Ryan, New Music Ensemble director, said four of the eight pieces will be performed at the Detroit concert, and all of them will be performed during various concerts throughout the remainder of the year.

“Performing off-campus at professional events is a great opportunity for our students to experience what life may be like for them after graduation,” Ryan said. “They get to experience a world-class facility and share the stage with professional musicians from around the country.”

The New Music Ensemble promotes contemporary music with roots in jazz, rock, pop and minimalism. The ensemble has released three critically acclaimed recordings, which have appeared on “best release lists” by The New York Times, Washington Post, LA Weekly and Time Out Chicago. The group has performed at the Bang On a Can Marathon in New York City, the College Music Society National Conference in Atlanta and at Carnegie Hall.

The Donald Sinta Quartet, featuring Dan Graser, assistant professor of saxophone, will also perform at the concert. The quartet has quickly achieved international acclaim for its recitals, concerto performances, memorized presentations and promotion of the latest collections from emerging young composers. The group made history as the first saxophone quartet to win first prize in the International Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition in New York City, while also being selected as grand prize winners at the 2013 Coleman International Competition in Los Angeles.

For more information about the concert, visit the New Music Detroit website.

For more information about the New Music Ensemble, visit newmusicensemble.org.