"The Hear and Now": Spitting Image Collective presents new music made for Minnesota

Daniel Nass, who's written about the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Zeitgeist for our site, is also a composer. Daniel shared some information with us about an exciting series of events he's involved in. Here's what Daniel tells us:

It's an exciting time for the new music community of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Liquid Music, a concert series presented by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, is finishing its second season of presenting innovative projects and artists, pushing the boundaries of the classical music world. The American Composers Forum — a national organization based in St. Paul — continues to champion new music and the composers who create it through various programs, concerts, and professional development and funding opportunities.

There are a number of ensembles in the area with a focus on new music, including Zeitgeist, the Renegade Ensemble, and Ensemble 61, just to name a few. In addition, there are a wide variety of individual performers in our community with a passion for presenting and premiering new compositions. And now, a new collective has been formed with a dedication to bringing together composers, performers, and listeners to strengthen the Twin Cities new music community: the Spitting Image Collective.

Local composers Katherine Bergman, Ted Moore, and I formed the Spitting Image Collective in 2013. The name comes from an idea encapsulated by our vision statement:

"We envision the Twin Cities community finding personal meaning and

cultural significance in contemporary classical music by identifying with

it as a reflection of our shared experiences."

This idea of bringing together and strengthening the local new music community is achieved in three primary ways. One, contemporary works are commissioned from composers within the Twin Cities area, works that are designed to connect composers with their hometown audiences and performers. Two, the group holds monthly composer "hangs," which are opportunities for local composers to discuss works-in-progress, get feedback on those, and make professional connections while simultaneously engaging in casual conversations. And three, a concert series with works written specifically for Twin Cities performers and audiences, with composers and performers participating in post-concert discussions with the audience. The inaugural concerts in the series — known as The Hear and Now — will be taking place in June.

Five new works from Twin Cities composers will be premiered:

Joshua Musikantow — Extinction, for electronics using Axis 64

Noah Keesecker — A new work for soprano and electronics

Daniel Nass — Nine Wee Drams, for clarinet and cello

Ted Moore — An Uaimh Bhinn, for bass clarinet and electronics

Katherine Bergman — Phase Change, for flute and cello

These works will be premiered by top local performers, including Carrie Henneman Shaw, soprano; Sarah Porwoll-Lee, clarinet; Lars Krogstad, cello; and James DeVoll, flute.

There will be two Hear and Now performances: Friday, June 6th, 7:30 PM, at Studio Z in Lowertown St. Paul, and Sunday, June 8th, 7:30 PM, at Honey in Minneapolis. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students). For more information on the Spitting Image Collective, or to purchase tickets for their upcoming Hear and Now concert series, please visit our website.