Department of Music to Host Charlotte New Music Festival

The UNC Charlotte Department of Music is partnering with the Charlotte New Music Festival to present a composers workshop and series of concerts June 19 – July 1. Founded in 2012 by UNC Charlotte music alumna Elizabeth Kowalski, the Charlotte New Music Festival brings together emerging and established composers and professional musicians for two intensive weeks of compositional training and performances of new works.

Kowalski graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2009 with a Bachelor of Music degree and subsequently went to UNC Greensboro to pursue a Master of Music degree in composition. While still a graduate student, she founded the Charlotte New Music Festival to provide opportunities for herself and other young composers to develop new work and experience high-quality performances of their music by professional musicians. Each year the festival has grown, drawing participants from every continent except Antarctica. This year, the first on the UNC Charlotte campus, 34 emerging composers were chosen from more than 100 applicants to come study with six guest composers, including UNC Charlotte Professor of Composition John Allemeier. Workshops will take place in Robinson Hall.

Performing ensembles this year include the New York City-based chamber ensemble, loadbang