UTSA School of Music Presents Annual New Music Festival, March 18-20: Featuring Guest Composer Shawn Okpebholo

San Antonio, Texas – The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) School of Music is set to host its highly anticipated annual New Music (NuMu) Festival from Monday, March 18, through Wednesday, March 20, 2024. This multi-day event, a cornerstone of the school’s creative output, aims to illuminate the vibrant landscape of contemporary composition, celebrating both established and emerging voices in new music.

The festival serves as a vital platform for composers to showcase their latest creative works and provides an invaluable opportunity for developing artists, particularly UTSA students, to have their compositions performed and recognized. Performances throughout the festival will primarily take place in the Arts Building Recital Hall located on the UTSA Main Campus, serving as the central hub for this exploration of new sounds.

Featuring Guest Composer Shawn Okpebholo

A highlight of this year’s festival is the participation of distinguished guest composer Shawn Okpebholo. A Nigerian American musician currently affiliated with Wheaton College, Okpebholo is renowned for his compelling and diverse body of work that spans orchestral, chamber, vocal, and choral music. His compositions often engage with themes of identity, social justice, and cultural heritage, resonating deeply with contemporary audiences.

Okpebholo’s significant contributions to the modern musical canon will be prominently featured throughout the festival. His works will be presented alongside pieces by UTSA’s own talented student composers, creating a dynamic dialogue between established professional artistry and the burgeoning creativity within the academic setting. This integration underscores the festival’s mission to nurture and promote new talent.

Festival Schedule Overview

The 2024 NuMu Festival unfolds over three consecutive evenings, each offering a unique programmatic focus. The events are scheduled to begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. on each respective date, inviting attendees to immerse themselves in the evolution of contemporary music.

Monday, March 18: The festival commences on the UTSA Main Campus with a performance by the UTSA Symphony Orchestra. The opening night program will feature a notable work by Aidan Ramos, the deserving winner of the student orchestral composition competition. The evening will also include collaborative performances with the UTSA choirs, promising a rich tapestry of vocal and instrumental sounds that highlight the synergistic capabilities within the School of Music.

Tuesday, March 19: The focus shifts to chamber music on the second evening. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the UTSA Recital Hall, the program will feature intricate and expressive works by guest composer Shawn Okpebholo. Sharing the stage will be a piece by Daniel Rios, the winner of the student chamber music composition contest, offering attendees insight into the innovative directions being pursued by UTSA’s student artists in the realm of small ensemble writing.

Wednesday, March 20: The festival reaches its conclusion with a performance by the UTSA Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. This final concert, also held at 7:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall, will showcase further compositions by Shawn Okpebholo, allowing the audience to experience his work through the distinct sonorities of wind and brass ensembles. The program will also include works by student competition winners Jaden Hernandez and Jared Worman, providing a platform for these emerging composers to have their pieces interpreted by large, accomplished ensembles.

A Legacy of New Music

The UTSA New Music Festival is not a recent undertaking; it possesses a significant history within the School of Music. The NuMu festival has been a consistent annual event since its inception in 2014, fostering a decade-long tradition of dedication to the creation, performance, and study of contemporary musical composition. Its longevity reflects UTSA’s commitment to being a vital center for musical innovation in the region and beyond.

By bringing together internationally recognized composers like Shawn Okpebholo with the promising talent of its student body, the UTSA School of Music continues to solidify its position as a crucial incubator for the future of music. The festival offers a unique opportunity for the public to engage directly with the sounds of today and tomorrow, experiencing the creative process firsthand and supporting the artists who are shaping the next generation of musical expression.