Tractor pulls aren’t the only thing drawing national interest in Bowling Green. Another noteworthy event— which offers a much sweeter, more eloquent sound— has been drawing crowds for nearly as long.
Drawing composers and attendees internationally since 1980, including contemporary super stars like John Cage, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass, the 36th annual New Music and Art Festival at Bowling Green State University will be held Wednesday, October 21- Saturday, October 24.
“We are a destination,” said Kurt Doles, director of BGSU’s MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music (MACCM), the only center of its kind in the nation. “Coming to this festival is a prestige festival. We bring some of the finest artistic minds in the country, and internationally [to] Bowling Green.”
Contemporary festivities
This year’s festival will highlight more than 30 guest composers and performers through concerts, lectures and an art exhibition. Featured guests include Fifth House Ensemble and Jennifer Higdon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer who graduated from BGSU in 1986.
Higdon is one of America’s most acclaimed and frequently performed living composers, maintaining a full schedule of musical commissions regarded for technical skill and audience appeal. Some of her works – including her popular “blue cathedral” – have been performed throughout the world. Her most recent opera project premiered to sold-out performances in August, and will travel elsewhere in the next two seasons. Higdon has recorded over sixty CDs.
MACCM has garnered national awards for its dedication to the study, performance, creative work and promotion of new music. The center’s interest is in contemporary classical music, also known as avant garde, or experimental music – which are generally new compositions written for classical music, according to Doles.
“(Our success) certainly started with the festival, but over the past 40 years, new music has become really part of the DNA and the culture at the College of Musical Arts here,” said Doles. “We have a long track record of producing people who go off and do really good work in contemporary music.”
Additional draws
Fifth House Ensemble (5HE), an 11-member group from Chicago formed 10 years ago, has pioneered the art of narrative chamber music with its signature series “Black Violet,” “The Weaver’s Tales” and “In Transit.” 5HE’s shows engage audiences through connective programming and more intimate performance venues.
The art exhibition, entitled DO IT: A Participatory Exhibition will open at 7pm on Wednesday, October 21 at the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery in the Fine Arts Center. Running through November 19, Do It will feature performative and instruction-based artworks by Yoko Ono, Hannah Weinberger, Max Neuhaus, and others.
All festival events are “very well attended,” according to Jen Sobolewski, BGSU communications manager.
Most events are free and open to the public.
Tickets for the Saturday closing concert at Kobacker Hall featuring orchestral and wind ensemble works by Higdon, are $7 in advance, $10 day of concert and $3 for BGSU students.
For more information, visit bgsu.edu/musical-arts/maccm/NewMusicFestival.html
