CHICAGO, IL - (December 3, 2024) As part of its mission to champion contemporary chamber music in Chicago, Nova Linea Musica (NLM) a chamber music series and new-music incubator, is dedicated to introducing Chicago audiences to the next generation of talented classical music stars and new music stewards. Nova Linea Musica’s Resident Artists Program identifies already highly acclaimed early-career string and piano players- graduates from the country’s top conservatories- who are dedicated to promoting new music and fosters collaboration and career growth over the course of a two-year residency. The musicians work closely with each other as well as established artists to present existing and world-premiere solo and ensemble repertoire through NLM’s season concerts and other presentations throughout Chicagoland. Each resident will also have the unique opportunity to work directly with a composer to commission, premiere, and record a new work written specifically for them. Nova Linea Musica’s inaugural class of resident artists are: Rabia Brooke (Violin), Sarah Chong (Cello), Alexander Hersh (cello), Samuel Rosenthal (viola), and Lam Wong (Piano).
The NLM Resident Artists will showcase their skills with a program of music from around the globe on Wednesday, January 15, 6:30 p.m. held at Guarneri Hall (11 E Adams St.). The program begins with Rosenthal performing works for solo viola including Errollyn Wallen’s Lavinia (2021), Garth Knox’s The Bridges of Newcastle (2024), and Gÿorgy Ligeti’s Sonata for Solo Viola (1991), in addition to Paul Wiancko‘s American Haiku for Viola and Cello (2014) with cellist Alexander Hersh. Then, the Nova Linea Musica Trio-in-Residence will make their debut with the gem of Armenian composer Arno Babajanyan’s catalogue, Piano Trio in F# minor No. 3 (1952). Hersh will close the concert with a set including a self-composed work Moon Music (2023), Bernard Rands’ Memo No. 9 (2024), Giovanni Sollima’s Lamentatio (2000) and Ligeti’s Hommage a Hilding Rosenberg for violin and cello (1982) with violinist Rabia Brooke.
Hersh will also perform the first of many NLM-commissioned works premiering on the concert season, a piece for solo cello by Chicago-based Morton Gould Composer award and BMI Composer award winner Paul Novak. In addition to supporting early-career performers, NLM is dedicated to presenting works from the next generation of composers. NLM’s robust commissioning program includes works from both established and emerging composers.
As with all NLM events, the cost of a ticket includes a pre-concert discussion from Doyle Armbrust’s Society of Disobedient Listeners and an intimate post-concert reception with the artists. The pre-concert talk starts at 5:30 PM. Tickets, which are $40, are currently sold out. To be added to the waitlist for tickets, visit novalineamusica.org and request to join the waitlist via the contact form. Recordings from the performance - including Novak’s world premiere - will be available for viewing after the concert on NLM’s website and social media channels at no cost.
“Giving early-career artists the opportunity to work directly with composers to premiere new works is an important part of our mission,” said Nova Linea Musica Artistic Director Desirée Ruhstrat. “Our resident artists have the unique opportunity to work with both established and emerging composers to not only perfect their craft, but also to better understand the commissioning process, allowing them to be even better stewards of the new-music ecosystem.”
“We are thrilled to introduce Chicago audiences to our incredibly talented resident artists,” added Nova Linea Musica Founder & President Michele Mohammadi. “Over the course of their two years with us, audiences will have the opportunity to meet these stellar early-career musicians and hear them perform in intimate venues. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity, since these musicians are sure to be stars in the near future.”
About Nova Linea Musica
Nova Linea Musica is a Chicago-based contemporary classical chamber music presenter, concert series, and new music incubator that launched its debut season this Fall. Led by Artistic Director Desirée Ruhstrat - a highly sought-after chamber musician in her own right – and Founder & President Michele Mohammadi, NLM’s mission is threefold: 1) to infuse the new-music ecosystem with the resources essential to the creation and presentation of new works 2) to close the distance between composers, performers, and listeners and 3) to elevate Chicago’s reputation as a world-class city for new music. For more information about Nova Linea Musica’s inaugural season, visit novalineamusica.org.
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Photos: Clockwise from top left- Rabia Brooke_ photo by Aleksandr Karjaka; Lam Wong_ photo courtesy of the artist; Sarah Chong_ photo courtesy of the artist; Alexander Hersh_ photo by Dario Acosta; Paul Novak_ photo courtesy of the artist; Samuel Rosenthal_ photo by Robert Muller;
Press Contacts: Alannah Spencer/Louise Yingduo Liu
The Silverman Group, Inc.
608-692-4778 (cell)/ 312-961-9290 (cell)
alannah@silvermangroupchicago.com/louise@silvermangroupchicago.com
