Elena Ruehr: Turning Emotion Into Sound
Elena Ruehr’s prolific output is a by-product of her maintaining a consistent composing schedule (five hours every day from Noon to 5:00pm) as well as her never-ending inspiration from the visual arts and her constant reading (four books a week), plus her desire to communicate with listeners.
Artists in Occupation
Trying to learn more about Yurii Kerpatenko, the conductor of the Kherson Philharmonic Orchestra who was murdered for refusing to participate in a twisted propaganda concert meant to demonstrate that peaceful life had returned to the city the Russians were occupying, I interviewed a number of artists who lived through months of occupation before finally fleeing. Though none of them were targeted for being artists, their stories weave a chilling narrative of survival and resistance in a region the Russians came to “liberate” from bogeymen of their own creation.
dublab — Qur’an Shaheed: live performance at dublab for NewMusicBox
A live performance by Qur'an Shaheed, a pianist, poet, singer and songwriter based in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, CA. Shaheed has been playing piano since the age of four, trained extensively in classical and contemporary music. Since 2012 she has been developing her practice as a songwriter alongside her solo piano and ensemble work.
Different Cities Different Voices – Omaha
For our latest edition of Different Cities Different Voices, a series from NewMusicBox that explores music communities across the United States through the voices of local creators and innovators, we are putting the spotlight on Omaha, Nebraska. The series is meant to spark conversation and appreciation for those working to support new music in the... Read more »
dublab — Samora and Elena Pinderhughes in conversation exploring the boundaries of creation
Samora and Elena Pinderhughes in conversation around the blurred boundaries between composer, musician, instrumentalist, producer and songwriter. The musical multi-hyphenates dive deep into anecdotes, personal narratives and a bit of philosophy around their processes, their truths and the ways they've evolved as creators. They converse with a depth only collaborators who are also siblings can reach.
How to Commission New Works and Where to Find New Pieces
I’m very passionate about encouraging my students and friends to find new repertoire for their instrument. If you have never commissioned a piece before, this article should be a good place for you to start. If you are already commissioning new pieces as a part of your musical practice, perhaps you will learn something new that you can incorporate next time.
