The inaugural Ear Taxi Festival, which will celebrate and premiere contemporary classical music, has announced its complete lineup. The Chicago-centric concert series is set to feature more than 300 musicians, 53 world premieres and a two-day “New Music Marathon,” which feature work in part by composer Shulamit Ran, the Andrew MacLeish Distinguished Service Professor of Music.
The festival will run Oct. 5 to 10 at multiple venues throughout Chicago, including the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago Cultural Center, Constellation and Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. Performances will be presented at more than 30 festival events, scheduled in 30- to 90-minute sets.
Augusta Read Thomas, University Professor of Composition in Music and the College, had a central role envisioning and leading Ear Taxi Festival, which was co-curated by conductor Stephen Burns as well as a curatorial committee of Chicago’s leading new music artists and intellectuals.
Along with Patricia Barber, International Contemporary Ensemble and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the roster of Chicago’s new music performers includes Spektral Quartet, Third Coast Percussion, Ensemble Dal Niente, Chicago Harp Quartet, Arcomusical and Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music Contemporary Ensemble.
University Carillonneur Joey Brink will perform the world premiere of a piece by composer Tomas Gueglio-Saccone on Oct. 6 at Rockefeller Chapel.
In addition to concert programming, the festival will include five unique sound art installations around the city; community partnerships, including public micro-performances; a series of “Meet the Artists” events, featuring moderated panel discussions and cocktails; and a “NewMusicBox LIVE!” event focused on Chicago-based composers and streamed online.
Events held at the Chicago Cultural Center, Rockefeller Chapel and Curtiss Hall are free. For other events, passes and tickets are available at http://www.eartaxifestival.com/tickets.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
