John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium


50th Anniversary Celebration
5-10 April 2022

PERFORMANCES

Sun 3 April 10:30a
Emanuele Arciuli
Chatter
912 3rd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

This was a special pre-symposium concert.

Featured Composers:
  • Claude Debussy ~ Preludes (excerpts)
  • William Duckworth ~ Time Curve Preludes (excerpts)
  • Peter Gilbert ~ Piano Sonata “New Scenes from an Old World” (American premiere)

Tue 5 April 7:30p
Ekmeles vocal ensemble
FREE ADMISSION
UNM Keller Hall
Live Stream

Ekmeles is a NYC-based vocal sextet dedicated to the performance of new and rarely-heard works, and gems of the historical avant garde.

Featured Composers
  • Doug Falk ~ I Wear An Artichoke Heart for a Hat
  • Jude Harb ~ Jabberwocky
  • Morgan Ifversen ~ Children's Fun Fact Science Corner
  • Sourena Sefati ~ Human Beings
  • Thomas Ropp ~ Nevermore
  • Gabe Gonzales ~ Fumiko/Yukio (mov. I)
  • David McGuire ~ Yet Dish
  • Patricia Ann Repar ~ .breathing.bones.mobile.mind. ft. William Lang, trombone
  • Jeffrey Gavett ~ Waves
  • Anthony Braxton ~ Composition No. #255 (+ 245)

Ekmeles
  • Charlotte Mundy, soprano
  • Elise Sutherland, mezzo-soprano
  • Tim Keeler, counter-tenor
  • Eric Dudley, tenor
  • Jeffrey Gavett, baritone
  • Steven Hrycelak, bass

Wed 6 April 7:30p
Emanuele Arciuli
FREE ADMISSION
UNM Keller Hall
Live Stream

Emanuele Arciuli has established himself as one of the most original and interesting performers on today’s classical music scene. His repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music, with a strong affinity for composers from the United States.

Featured Composers
  • Neely Bruce ~ Four Geographical Preludes
  • Scott Wilkinson ~ Prelude
  • Patricia Alessandrini ~ Etude n.1 bis (d’aprés Scarlatti)
  • Louis W Ballard ~ Four American Indian Piano Preludes
  • Raven Chacon ~ Nilchi’ Shada’ ji Nalaghali
  • Michael Begay ~ Adéihozhdilzin (Know who you are)
  • Connor Chee ~ Navajo Vocable n.1 - 4 - 5 - 9
  • Monica Demarco ~ Dulce and the Doorway in the Sky; Katzimo; Green Meteor Shower in Gallup; Flight of the Stone Lion
  • Frederic Rzewski ~ Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues

Thu 7 April 7:30p
Ekmeles vocal ensemble
FREE ADMISSION
Cathedral of St John Albuquerque 318 Silver Ave. SW ABQ 87102

Featured Composers
  • Patricia Alessandrini ~ Hear Ekmeles; William Lang, trombone
  • Chris Orphal ~ Poi si tornò a l'etterna fontana
  • Peter Gilbert ~ As the waters began to rise
  • José-Luis Hurtado ~ All the names
  • Karola Obermüller ~ mass:distance:time
  • Charlope Mundy ~ SWEET FLAG!

Sun 10 April 10:30a
Chatter
TICKETS $5-$16 pre-order chatter.org or $20 at the door (if not sold out)
912 3rd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Chatter fosters curiosity about and understanding of today’s composers by juxtaposing and weaving together new and traditional classical music.

Featured Composers
  • Stephanie Ann Boyd ~ Aurora
  • Julia Gomelskaya ~ the hint only
  • Richard Cameron-Wolfe ~ Code of Unsilence: A Prayer
  • Juanito Becenti ~ Divertimento no. 5 “Melodrama”

Chatter musicians
  • Jesse Tatum, flute
  • Jeff Brooks, clarinet
  • Jeff Rogers, horn
  • Jeff Cornelius, percussion
  • Ruxandra Marquardt, violin
  • James Holland, cello
  • Judith Gordon, piano
  • David Felberg, conductor

Sun 10 April 7:30p
Robb Concert featuring Seth Keeton & University of New Mexico Choirs
FREE ADMISSION
UNM Keller Hall
Live Stream

Featuring works by John Donald Robb (1892-1989) Dean of UNM College of Fine Arts (1942-1957) and other composers. Bass-baritone, Seth Keeton’s performances have been described by The New York Times as “driven” and “emotionally pointed.” UNM Choirs are directed by Dr. David Edmonds. The Annual Robb Concert will be followed by a public reception sponsored by the Robb Trust.

Featured Composers
  • Katerina Gimon ~ "Fire" (from Elements)
  • William Wood ~ selections from Clarinet Set
  • Steven Block ~ selections from Five Plainchants
  • Chris Shultis ~ centenary fragment with video by Hee Sook Kim
  • Michael Mauldin ~ Canyon Light: 4 Scenes for Woodwind Quintet
  • Nadia Boulanger ~ Chanson; Cantique
  • John Donald Robb ~ Psalm 23; Psalm 104; Tears; I Am Very Old Tonight; 7 Songs for Voice and Piano, Opus 6b; 5 Songs, Op. 36

Featured Performers:
  • UNM Concert Choir
  • UNM Las Cantantes
  • Dr. David Edmonds, UNM Choirs director
  • Kevin Vigneau, oboe
  • Scott Jacobsen, piano
  • Steve Higbee, clarinet
  • Video by artist Hee Sook Kim featuring Chatter in a pre-recorded performance. Chatter is: Jesse Tatum, flute; James Shields, clarinet; Megan Holland, violin; James Holland, cello; Jeff Cornelius, percussion
  • UNM Enchantment Winds: James Walter, flute; Natalia Valladares Salgado, oboe; Sam McClung, clarinet; Daniel Yim, bassoon; Sarah Schwenke, horn; Denise Reig-Turner, faculty coach
  • James Flora, tenor
  • Olga Perez Flora, mezzo-soprano
  • Seth Keeton, bass-baritone
  • Kristin Ditlow, collaborative pianist

WORKSHOPS

Tue 29 March 7:30p
loadbang
FREE ADMISSION
UNM Kurt Fredrick Hall, Room B120, Popejoy Hall lower level

This is a special pre-symposium UNM student composer workshop recital. loadbang is building a new kind of music for mixed ensemble of trumpet, trombone, bass clarinet, and baritone voice.

Featured Composers
  • Christopher Orphal ~ As a River; As a Flame
  • Sourena Sefati ~ The Secret Eternal
  • Benjamin Work ~ The Man on the Brink of My Mind
  • Morgan Ifversen ~ Antigonish
  • Nikolas Hoerning ~ Tell Me How the World Ends
  • Thomas Ropp ~ To be a Frog
  • Eduardo Orea ~ Centaurus
  • Christopher Orphal ~ excerpts from "The Judgement"
  • Daniel Bukin ~ Snowstorm
  • Doug Falk ~ You're Not A Girl ... Just Now
  • Jude Harb ~ Strawberry Fire
  • Hyesun Lee ~ Sugungga (Song of the Sea Palace)
  • David McGuire ~ Harjo Fragments

Tue 29 March 2:00p
Bass Clarinet Master Class with Adrián Sandi, bass clarinet of loadbang
FREE ADMISSION
UNM College of Fine Arts, Room B015
Born and raised in San José, Costa Rica, Adrián studied at National Institute of Music of Costa Rica. He obtained a BM magna cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University, a MM with distinction from DePaul University, and a Doctorate in Musical Arts from Eastman School of Music. 

Mon 4 April 3:00p
Choir Master Class with ekmeles vocal ensemble
FREE ADMISSION
UNM College of Fine Arts, Room B117

Tue 5 April 12:15p
Composition Master Class with Patricia Alessandrini
FREE ADMISSION
UNM College of Fine Arts, Room 1106
Patricia Alessandrini studied composition and electronics at the Conservatorio di Bologna, Conservatoire de Strasbourg, and IRCAM, and holds two PhDs, from Princeton University and the Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC) respectively. Her principal composition teachers were Ivan Fedele, Paul Koonce, Tristan Murail, and Thea Musgrave. Patricia is the 2020 John Donald Robb Composition Commission recipient.

Thu 7 April 3:00p
Voice Master Class with Seth Keeton, bass-baritone
FREE ADMISSION
UNM College of Fine Arts, Room B117

Fri 8 April 11:00a
Artist Talk with Monica Demarco, musician, teacher, composer
FREE ADMISSION
UNM College of Fine Arts, Room 1111
Monica Demarco’s work spans a range of styles pulling from many diverse musical experiences. She enjoys collaboration with many different artistic disciplines including dance, theatre and visual art. She lives in Albuquerque and is a UNM graduate with degrees in Piano Performance and Theory/Composition.

PERFORMANCE VENUES

Cathedral of St. John
318 Silver Avenue SW Albuquerque, NM 87102 | directions
located at the corner of 4th & Silver in downtown Albuquerque
stjohnsabq.org
COVID Protocols: coming soon

CHATTER
912 3rd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 | directions
located between Granite and Marble Avenues
chatterabq.org
COVID Protocols:
As the risk from COVID in our community decreases, Chatter is changing our policies in line with other local theaters and arts presenters. Effective with the April 3rd concert, we will no longer be verifying vaccination status for entry to Chatter. Masks will continue to be required of the audience when not consuming food or drink, and we will continue to provide supplemental air filtration. These protocols are subject to change.

UNM College of Fine Arts
Center for the Arts & Art Musuem
203 Cornell Dr, Albuquerque, NM 87106 | directions
located within the Popejoy Hall complex
finearts.unm.edu
COVID Protocols: Effective March 19, 2022, the University of New Mexico no longer requires masks to be worn indoors at their campuses located in counties that are considered at low or medium COVID-19 community level by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result, Keller Hall will not check vaccination cards and will not require patrons or performers to wear a mask. Anyone choosing to wear a mask may continue to do so. Click here for a detailed summary of UNM's COVID protocols. These protocols are subject to change.

UNM Keller Hall
Center for the Arts & Art Museum
203 Cornell Dr, Albuquerque, NM 87106 | directions
Keller Hall shares a lobby with Popejoy Hall
finearts.unm.edu/venues/keller-hall
COVID Protocols: Effective March 19, 2022, the University of New Mexico no longer requires masks to be worn indoors at their campuses located in counties that are considered at low or medium COVID-19 community level by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result, Keller Hall will not check vaccination cards and will not require patrons or performers to wear a mask. Anyone choosing to wear a mask may continue to do so. Click here for a detailed summary of UNM's COVID protocols. These protocols are subject to change.

PROGRAM BOOKLET

Download a copy of the 2022 John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium 50th Anniversary commemorative program booklet here.

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM

The UNM Robb Trust promotes the exploration of new music through the UNM John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium,  which takes place every spring on the UNM campus. Since 1972, the internationally renowned symposium has brought composers and musicians from around the world to UNM for a series of public concerts and unique learning opportunities for UNM students. Past guest composers have included such luminaries as Anthony Braxton, John Cage, Lukas Foss, Michael Colgrass, Gordon Mumma, and Chen Yi.

The Trust sponsors the biennial UNM John Donald Robb Commission Competition. The winner is awarded a cash prize and their composition is premiered at the Symposium. The 2020 Commission recipient is Patricia Alessandrini. New York-based ekmeles vocal ensemble will premiere Patricia's new work "Hear" at the 2022 Symposium.

The UNM Robb Musical Trust serves as a bridge between the UNM College of Fine Arts and the New Mexico community, regularly presenting concerts of Robb’s compositions along with Hispanic folk songs, preserving and promoting the archive of 3,000+ field recordings Robb made, and collaborating with community partners in educational initiatives. Through its many activities, the Trust proudly carries on the vision of its namesake, John Donald Robb.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the 2021 John Donald Robb Composers' Symposium "House Music" was held virtually on the UNM Robb Trust YouTube Channel.

Program Booklet Archive

View previous symposium program booklets dating back to 1980:

2022 | 2021
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991
1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1982 | 1981
1980 | 2021 addendum