Calisa Hildebrand

The New Spectrum Ensemble had their first rehearsal of the season today. We always play really challenging works, so I have to admit…I was a little nervous going into it! As soon as I saw everyone, however, I forgot all about my technical concerns and immediately had a blast (what was I so worried about?)!

Everyone in the New Spectrum Ensemble is talented and so fun to work with. Cellist Kathryn Bates-Williams and pianist Sandra Gu do a fantastic job of bring together amazing musicians to perform some truly remarkable pieces.

We are also really excited because NSE received its first funding from the American Composers Forum. The grant supports three performances of Kay Rhie’s I Hear the Sound of Trees for mixed ensemble and soprano.

At our fall concert, we’ll be Rhie’s piece as well as an awesome composition by Takuma Itoh entitled, “Pins and Needles.” Pins and Needles is everything I love in a piece of music: sharp, edgy, dramatic and intense. I fell in love with it instantly and can’t wait for people to hear the final product.

We’re so excited about this program that we are giving 2 back to back performances:

Saturday, October 16th, 7:30 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin Street

Sunday, October 17th, 3:00 pm at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Palo Alto, 600 Colorado Avenue

Mark your calendars and invite your friends now, it’s going to be here before you know it!

-Calisa