"Sounds of US" will feature nearly 40 new works by a wide range of American composers

Kennedy Center Announces Immersive Music Festival Curated by Jennifer Koh

By The Violin Channel

October 11, 2024

"Sounds of US" will feature nearly 40 new works by a wide range of American composers, from those starting out to those at the height of their careers

Violinist Jennifer Koh is set to curate Sounds of US, a new immersive music festival hosted by The Kennedy Center. The one-day festival seeks to reflect American identity — the country's traditions and innovations — through the performance of works by American composers.

The festival will feature continuous music, including almost 40 world premieres of new works by both established and emerging composers. These include Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, as well as Vijay Iyer, Nina C. Young, David Ludwig, inti figgis-vizueta, and more. The festival will also provide a platform for young composers from The Juilliard School and Juilliard Pre-College.

The composers will be split into four groups, with the aim of illustrating the composer's journey from its earliest stages to its culmination. The four groups are titled To Begin, To Believe, To Become, and To Be.

GRAMMY Award-winning violinist Jennifer Koh has dramatically expanded the contemporary violin repertoire by commissioning and then giving the premiere performances of more than 100 new works. Previously, she won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the Concert Artists Guild Competition, and an Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Sounds of US will be held from 1 PM to 9 PM (ET) on November 16, 2024. You can find out more and book your tickets here.

"Sounds of US envisions a future shaped by the diversity of voices that represent our nation," said Jennifer Koh. "With nearly 40 new works by established and emerging composers commissioned by ARCO Collaborative, Sounds of US is about creating opportunities and building a legacy."

"By mentoring young composers and performers, particularly women and people of color, we are opening doors and advocating for a future where one generation uplifts the next, ensuring the Kennedy Center stages reflect the true diversity of America’s sound, now and into the future."

This article is sourced from Kennedy Center Announces Immersive Music Festival Curated by Jennifer Koh (theviolinchannel.com)