The third annual Composers Now Festival is set to take place from February 4 through 28 in venues throughout New York City, beginning with an eight-hour Music of Now Marathon on February 4 at Symphony Space. The festival, expanded this year from one week to three weeks, is headed by Symphony Space Artistic Director Laura Kaminsky, with composer-conductor Tania León serving as artistic advisor. Among the more than 20 institutions and performers participating in the festival are the Juilliard School, the Park Avenue Armory, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Copland Center, Galapagos Arts Space, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Encompass New Opera Theatre. The festival-opening marathon, hosted by WQXR’s Terrance McKnight, will feature ten world premieres; among composers feature at subsequent events are Shulamit Ran, Steven Mackey, Steven Stucky, Richard Danielpour, David Leisner, Morton Feldman, and student composers from New York University. The festival will feature a wide assortment of performers and performing ensembles, including Nouveau Classical Project, PUBLIQuartet, Imani Winds, Quintet of the Americas, pianist Ursula Oppens, violinist Madalyn Parnas, and clarinetist Alan Kay.
Posted January 11, 2012
