Featured Composer: Nicholas Karr

Nicholas Karr’s music finds a fertile meeting ground between his affinity for minimalistic textures and his interest in film and video.  Whether he is creating works for small groups, large ensembles or electronics, his music always demonstrates a fine ear for color and an inventive imagination.

The ear for color probably stems from his early childhood, when he convinced his mother to buy an old Hammond organ at a thrift store for about 20 dollars.  "I really owe everything to that organ in terms of developing a good ear and becoming interested in composition," he says.

He learned to play in ensembles through clarinet in middle school and high school concert bands.  After briefly majoring in Music Education at Appalachian State, he transferred to UNCSA to study with Dr. Michael Rothkopf.  His studies have been very fruitful; in his words, "I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be here and pursue a passion for music." 

Nick's senior year has been very busy.  He wrote a saxophone quartet, Fourth Stream, that was premiered on his recital last fall.  Also, last fall, his electronic composition Welcome was used to open UNCSA’s annual Collage concert, a program that features the best the school has to offer.  This spring, his string quartet The Flaw in Trying was performed and recorded by the Attacca Quartet, Eighth Blackbird is recording a new work called Sulcus, and Wachovia Winds has commissioned Llanfair, which they will premiere in March.

Nick's work on SoundCloud

To view a score of Nick's Ripple for wind ensemble, click on the image below: