Georgia State music composition studies coordinator, Dr. Nick Demos, is well-known in the area for his work and passion for promoting new, contemporary works for all types of musical ensembles. Eight years ago, Demos went out after his performance with his ensemble, neoPhonia (a group featuring flexible instrumentation comprised of GSU faculty, GSU student, and Atlanta Area professional musicians), and bumped into Caleb Herron, artistic director of Chamber Cartel. “We quickly realized that we were both there to celebrate our respective concerts which had both taken place at the same time that evening. We began talking about how it was a shame that we didn’t know about each other’s events and how great it could be to coordinate our calendars a little better so an audience for contemporary music would not be potentially divided. One thing led to another, and we brought in other interested performers/composers (notably Brent Milam and Amy O’Dell) and all hatched the idea of the SoundNOW Contemporary Music Festival.”
Now in its 6th year, the SoundNOW Contemporary Music Festival returns to present performances by 12 of Atlanta’s best new music ensembles coming together to showcase their music in a seven-concert series beginning Sunday, March 26, and running through April 1. Demos is most excited about this year and states “in addition to many of the ensembles that have performed at past festivals, we are excited to welcome three new groups to SoundNOW: the Scibelli/Lombardi Duo, the Athens (GA) based Subaerial Collective, and the relatively newly formed Ensemble VIm.”
Many if not most of the ensembles that will be performing during the festival have direct ties to Georgia State, whether the directors themselves or the performing musicians are alumni and/or current music students.
Sunday, March 26 – 8 PM
at First Existentialist Congregation; donations encouraged
Monday, March 27 – 8 PM
at Kopleff Recital Hall; free
- Chamber Cartel directed by GSU alumnus Caleb Herron
- Scibelli/Lombardi Duo
Tuesday, March 28 – 8 PM
at Kopleff Recital Hall; free
- neoPhonia New Music Ensemble founded in 1996 and directed by Nick Demos
Wednesday, March 29 – 8 PM
at Kopleff Recital Hall; free
- Terminus New Music Ensemble founded and directed by alumnus and current School of Music faculty member, Brent Milam
- Ensemble Vim
Thursday, March 30 – 8 PM
at Kopleff Recital Hall; free
- Atlanta Contemporary Ensemble Tracy Woodward, executive director and GSU alumna
Friday, March 31 – 8 PM
A House Concert – Residence of Majid Ariam (2171 Star Mist Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA, 30311); free
- Majid Ariam
Saturday, April 1 – 8 PM
at First Existentialist Congregation; donations encouraged
- smol ensemble members Olivia Kieffer and Amy O’Dell, alumni
- Moloq
Nick Demos along with the SoundNOW board is looking forward to presenting a fantastic lineup in just a few short weeks. When asked what he enjoys most about this event, Demos responds, “The SoundNOW Contemporary Music Festival is especially gratifying for me as both a composer and presenter of contemporary music because the festival has provided an opportunity to showcase the incredible diversity of musical expressions and aesthetics in the contemporary music scene here in Atlanta. Atlanta is a very vibrant center for so-called “contemporary classical” music and SoundNOW shines a spotlight on many of the gifted artists and performers creating great music in the city.”
For more information about the 2023 SoundNOW Contemporary Music Festival, visit https://www.atlantasoundnowfestival.com/.
