Spring 2021 Cycle
The first-ever program offered by The NowBeat Project. Scroll down to learn about how it went!
Overview
Our Spring 2021 Cycle took place between late April 2021 and early June.
Over a dozen young composers participated in the Spring 2021 Cycle from 6 U.S. states and even from outside the U.S.
Participants were challenged to write a short piece for two instruments (either flute & clarinet, trumpet & trombone, and cello duet), and only had about two weeks to do this!
During those two weeks, the participants had the unique opportunity to work with one of our Composer-Mentors, all of which are talented student composers who attend Interlochen Arts Academy.
In May, the completed pieces were read and recorded by 6 amazing student performers, who also are students at Interlochen Arts Academy.
On June 6, 11 of the recorded pieces were featured on our Virtual Showcase Concert, which premiered on YouTube and remains viewable to all who are interested.
Photo from one of our recording sessions in May 2021. The cellists are Maximus Gurath (left) and Gabriel Hennebury (right).
Testimonials from the Participants
“It was super exciting to be able to share my first performed piece and write for an ensemble that’s unusual for me. I think it was great experience and really motivated me to push further in my composing career.”
“It was a great opportunity to practice my composing skills and learn about how to compose in the future.”
“I liked how it wasn’t a competition with only one winner but a celebration for everyone to participate.”
“My experience working with my composer mentor was very pleasant. It was very nice to get to work with someone close to my age and learn many new things about how to improve my compositions and get to know them, personally, as well! I found it to be very helpful in composing my duet, especially with the feedback and advice. I can not think of anything that my mentor did that could have been done better. My experience working with him was great!”
“I learned a lot about theory related to composition that I had never thought of before. Additionally, I learned more efficient ways to compose from my mentor that will assist me in the future.”
“It was a fun and great experience!”
Photo of some of the Spring 2021 Composer-Mentors. From left to right: Rowan Lemaster, Jack Kaiser, Jonah Cohen, Elizabeth Duers, Will Collin, Adrian Stark (Tiffany Hee Jae Hwang not pictured)
Virtual Showcase Concert
Our first-ever Virtual Showcase Concert, which features some of the completed compositions written by young composers who participated in our Spring 2021 Cycle, premiered on YouTube at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, June 6.
Click here to view the program for the Spring 2021 Cycle Virtual Showcase Concert!
Click here to view this concert on YouTube.
Although this concert premiered on June 6, it remains viewable on our YouTube channel, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could check it out to support the amazing young composers who were participants in our Spring 2021 Cycle!