Performances
nu ensemble performs works by influential contemporary composers and works from recent history, as well as by students in the Composition program at UNCSA. Its repertoire reflects current cultural topics, and often includes non-musical elements such spoken word, unique staging, video and projected images. Programs from past performances show the diverse range of styles, composers and genres from which its concerts are drawn.
2019-20 Performances
- D.J. Sparr: Sound Harmonies with Air (2009)
For chamber orchestra, electric guitar and electronics - Viet Cuong: Electric Aroma (2017)
For clarinet, soprano saxophone, piano and percussion - Sarah Kirkland Snider: Calypso from Penelope (2010)
For mezzo-soprano, violins, viola, cello, bass and drums - Caroline Shaw: Valencia (2012)
For string quartet - Jennifer Jolley: You Are Not Alone (2019)
For flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano - Stefan Freund: Unremixed (2005)
For chamber orchestra
- David Sanford: Prayer: In Memoriam Dr. Martin Luther King (1992)
For chamber orchestra - UNCSA composition student Jacob Hinson world premiere, Title TBD
For chamber orchestra - Missy Mazzoli: Set That On Fire (2013)
For flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin and piano - Jacob ter Veldhuis: Pitch Black (1998)
For saxophone quartet and soundtrack - Florent Ghys: Hommage a Jacob ter Veldhuis (2009)
For four guitars, bass, and pre-recorded audio and video - Chen Yi: Suite for Viola and Chamber Winds (2005)
Past Performances
Program
Directed by Saxton Rose and Christopher Lees
- Ted Hearne – But I Voted for Shirley Chisholm
for chamber orchestra, computer - Derek Arnold – Cook’s Wall
for violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn - Cheyne Runnels – Mistakes were Made
for chamber orchestra - Donnacha Dennehy – That the Night Come
for chamber orchestra and soprano
Elizabeth Pacheco Rose, soprano
INTERMISSION
- Caroline Shaw – Entr’acte
for string quartet - Dak Van Vranken – HAG
for chamber orchestra - Stefan Freund – The Soldier Dances with Tom Sawyer
for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, violin, bass, percussion
On this program, nu tackles the newest repertoire possible: music by UNCSA composition students of Lawrence Dillon, Kenneth Frazelle and Michael Rothkopf. All of the works on this concert were completed in the last few months of 2014; they reflect the diverse interests and influences of the current generation of creative artists.
Program
Directed by Saxton Rose and Christopher Lees
- 5/13 by Dak Van Vranken
for chamber orchestra - Baleine by Kyrie Antoinette
for flute, harp, cello, double bass - The Hollow Men by Dayton Hare
for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello - Across Distances by Cheyne Runnells
for flute, guitar, violin, double bass, percussion
INTERMISSION
- Clara’s Theme by Jessica Buford
for flute and cello - Stephan’s Quintet by Zachary Mackey
for electric guitar, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello - Rest, Refocus, Repeat by Brent Lawrence
for soprano saxophone, two violins, viola, cello, piano - Fanfare by Oliver B. Glynn
trumpet, horn, trombone, bass trombone, timpani
nu began its third season with director Saxton Rose on Oct. 17, 2014.
Program
- Randall Woolf: Shakedown (1990)
For chamber orchestra - Amy Beth Kirsten: Yes I Said Yes I Will Yes (2012)
For soprano and bass
With guest soprano Lindsay Kesselman - Jeffrey Holmes: Hrið-Móðr-Ljómi (2014) – World Premiere
For guitar solo with flute, horn, percussion, harp, violin, and cello
Michael Kudirka, soloist
INTERMISSION
- Florent Ghys: Hommage a Jacob ter Veldhuis (2008) – Live Performance World Premiere
For four guitars, bass, and pre-recorded audio/video - Marc Mellits: Revolution (2012)
For saxophone quartet - Nicholas Omiccioli: Fuse (2014)
For chamber orchestra
For this program, nu tackled the newest repertoire possible: music by UNCSA composition students of Lawrence Dillon, Kenneth Frazelle and Michael Rothkopf. All of the works on this concert were completed in the last few months of 2013; they reflect the diverse interests and influences of the current generation of creative artists.
Program
- Whistler’s Trio by Ethan Swofford
- Dedalus Fugue by Dayton Hare
- Every Bump in the Road by Clayton Simmons Davidson
- Rise and Plummet by Cheyne Runnells
Plumage
The Owl Cries Who
Earnest Hummingbird
And the Penguins Hid Beneath the Waves
The Pelican Who Dropped the Moon
Go! Go! Ostrich Gallop!
Fledgling Down - My Mechanical Skin by Dak Van Vranken
INTERMISSION
- Silver Cord by Kenneth Florence
Light Beings
Europa - The Mountain Summit by Zachary Mackey
- Ira by Alexander Chadwick Umfleet
- How to Talk to Women, (or Table for One on the Rocks) by Derek Arnold
- Travel by Brent Lawrence
- Two Songs by Laura Reynolds
Grown Up (St. Vincent Millay)
Sea of Plastic (Reynolds)
nu ensemble began its second season with director Saxton Rose on Oct. 24, 2013.
Program
- John Orfe – Dowland Remix (2010)
for chamber orchestra - Frances White – The Ocean Inside (2007)
for alto flute, clarinet, violin, cello, percussion, piano, and electronic sound - David T. Little – and the sky was still there (2010)
for solo electric violin, video and playback
with violin soloist Lucia Kobza - Robbie McCarthy – Four-Letter-Word (2012)
for oboe, soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon
INTERMISSION
- Bill Ryan – Smoke (2010)
for saxophone ensemble - Alfonso Fuentes – Cuarteto para la Coexistencia (2010)
for flute, clarinet, violin, cello - David Biedenbender – Schism (2011)
for chamber orchestra
For this program, nu tackled the newest repertoire possible: music by UNCSA composition students. All of the works on this concert were completed in the last few months of 2012; they reflect the diverse interests and influences of the current generation of creative artists.
Program
- Enemy Wind by Will Dixon b. 1995)
- String Quartet in D by Derek Arnold (b. 1983)
- Return to Me by Cheyne Runnells (b. 1994)
- Sleeping City Sidewalk by Clayton Davidson (b. 1972)
- From Afar by Dak van Vranken (b. 1992)
- ÉPOPTEIA by Quinn Dougherty by (b. 1992)
INTERMISSION
- Whirlwind by Bruce W. Tippette (b. 1985)
- Pop Mutations by Nicholas Rich (b. 1984)
Students of UNCSA composition faculty Lawrence Dillon, Kenneth Frazelle and Michael Rothkopf.
The nu ensemble performed its first concert of 2012-13 on Saturday, Oct. 27.
Program
- Wolfgang Rihm: Will Sound (2006)
- Giacinto Scelsi: Prânam II (1973)
- John Cage: Dance Music for Elfrid Ide (1940)
- Benjamin Broening: like dreams, statistics are a form of wish fulfillment (2005)
- Caleb Burhans: oh ye of little faith…(do you know where your children are?) (2008)