Abstract
Honoring the University of Illinois sesquicentennial anniversary in 2017, Krannert Center and the School of Music are collaboratively exploring the extraordinary diversity of today’s vital contemporary music scene during the months of February and March with a new project entitled Sonic Illinois. Sonic Illinois is a revival of the spirit of the University of Illinois Festival of Contemporary Arts, which was a major cultural force in the mid-20th century. The campus and community are invited to explore innovative composers, musicians, and scholars who continue to challenge conventions, forge new pathways, and expand the creative process through performances, lectures, masterclasses, and conversation events.
This celebration of new music will include historic compositions, global contemporary artists, University of Illinois School of Music ensembles, and works by Illinois faculty and students. Audiences can expect to hear pieces by John Cage, Jeffrey Mumford, Julia Wolfe, and Osvaldo Golijov; University of Illinois School of Music composers Erin Gee, Reynold Tharp, and Erik Lund; student composers Kyle Shaw and Dongryul Lee; and School of Music alumna Tomeka Reid among others