The world premiere of a chamber piece by Syracuse University professor Natalie Draper is among the highlights of the Society for New Music (SNM) 2022-23 season.
The premiere is one of six programs that SNM is presenting this academic year throughout Central New York, covering a variety of sounds, styles and compositional scenes.
Founded in 1971, SNM is New York State’s only new year-round music organization outside of Manhattan. The Syracuse-based nonprofit is also a longtime partner of the University, with students, faculty and alumni participating in 30-some concerts and workshops each year. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit socialfornewmusic.org.
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, September 9
The second show of “Home Burial“ opera by Charles Lupia ’77, L’91
CNY Jazz Central (441 East Washington St., Syracuse)
7:30 p.m
Lupia makes his stage debut with Home Burial, a one-act chamber opera based on Robert Frost’s Death of a Hired Man. Against the backdrop of a family reunion, Lupia explores themes of power, friendship, guilt and redemption. The production stars soprano Laura Enslin, tenor Dan Fields ’17 and bass-baritone David Neal, accompanied by pianist Sar Strong G’98, violinist Jonathan Hwang and cellist Zachary Sweet – all under the direction of Heather Buchman. The first half of the all-American program features vocal selections by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Paulus and Judith Cloud.
Sunday, October 2
“Evolutions: Music from the Next Generation”
St. Paul’s Episcopal (220 East Fayette St., Syracuse)
4 in the afternoon
Natalie Draper
“Evolutions is a three-movement work that explores gradual change, the idea that something can evolve from nothing,” explains Natalie Draper, an assistant professor in the Setnor School of Music at Syracuse’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Scored for an extended Pierrot Ensemble (ie, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion), the program’s title piece begins with a groove, which Draper reworks through various instrumental colors and registers. The wave-like second movement swells before receding into a lush chorale finale.
Sean O’Loughlin
Also in the program are “Floating Points“ by Ryan Carter and “Pointillism” by Symphoria Principal Pops conductor Sean O’Loughlin ’95, both commissioned by SNM. “Minnaloushe” by Alexandros Darna concludes the program. Darna is the 2022 recipient of the Brian M. Israel Award, co-sponsored by SNM and the New York Federation of Music Clubs.
The concert is performed by members of the Players Association.
Friday, November 4
Music by the Society of Composers Inc., Region II Conference
Central Park Presbyterian Church (504 East Fayette St., Syracuse)
7:30 p.m
SNM teams up with Setnor School to host the Composers Association Inc. Region II Conference. (SCI), for an evening of new music from established and rising stars. The program features works by SCI members Jiyoun Chung, Wenbin Lyu, Paul Novak, Charles Peck, Paul Richards, Sami Seif and Octavio Vazquez.
Friday, February 17 – Sunday, February 19
The annual performance of “Vision of Sound”.
Syracuse, Geneva and Rochester (locations TBA)
Times TBA
Christopher Cresswell
A 17-year SNM tradition, Vision of Sound presents an evening of original music, dance and movement by regional artists. The Society Players perform works by Christopher Cresswell ’11, former Syracuse professor Sally Lamb McCune, Ryan Chase, Carrie Magin, Mark Olivieri and Doc Woods.
Sunday, March 26
Syracuse Symposium Concert “Works of Repair”
Hergenhan Auditorium (Newhouse 3), Syracuse University
2 in the afternoon
SNM marks the Syracuse Symposium’s year-long theme of “Repair: Retelling, Resisting, Reimaging” with the world premiere of a piece by former Syracuse professor James Gordon Williams. Rounding out the program are “Glorious Mahalia” by Stacy Garrop; “Oh, Liri” by guest composer Anthony R. Green; and “I Told You So” by Flannery Cunningham.
Sunday, April 23
Music by SNM award winners
St. Paul’s Episcopal (220 East Fayette St., Syracuse)
4 in the afternoon
SNM completes its 51ststr season of new music from award-winning composers. Featured are “Shadows of Innocence” by SNM-commissioned composer Steve Ferre, winner of the Robert Avalon International Composer Competition; “Migrant” by Octavio Vazquez, co-commissioned by SNM and the National Endowment for the Arts; and 2022 Israel/Pellman Prize winner Christian-Frédéric Bloquert “Serenade: Recomposed.”
SNM is the brainchild of Neva Pilgrim, who co-founded the successful non-profit organization in 1971. Not even a global pandemic has stopped SNM from continuing to fund commissions, present concerts and workshops, and recognize emerging composers. “We’re excited about the next 50 years,” says Pilgrim, who has served as artist-in-residence at Syracuse and Colgate universities. “The success of the Society for New Music is a testament not only to the hard work of many people, but also to the growing popularity of contemporary classical music.”
Pilgrim, who has also produced and hosted “Fresh Ink” on WCNY-FM for the past 26 years, sums up SNM’s aesthetic in three words: “Diversity. Imagination. Originality.”
Regular tickets are $20. Student and senior tickets are $15. Audience members 18 and under are free.
Repair Works is free to Syracuse students, faculty and staff with ID.