Featuring the MM Performer-Composer Ensemble:
Ezra Gans
Yiseul Kim LeMieux
Magnus Breivik Løvseth
Shara Lunon
Julián Muro
Marisa Tornello

Special Thanks: Masson LeMieux

The College of Performing Arts inaugural MM Performer-Composer class will perform Wadada Leo Smith's Symphony no. 2 Winter in a live streamed, multi-location presentation. The performance is part of the Performer-Composer Stone Lab, a workshop led by artists-in-residence at The Stone, "a not-for-profit performance initiative dedicated to the experimental and avant-garde".

The new Performer-Composer Master of Music (MM) degree at The New School’s College of Performing Arts is designed for musicians whose passion lies at the intersection of composition, performance, and improvisation.

Artwork Description: The surface of the winter panel has a spike crossing its center, the top right-end of the spike is pointed upward and it’s bottom left-end is pointed downward. Also the surface has a sonic-belt that starts in the back of the Sun and loops over across the front surface of the Sun. Then it descends just under the center of the spike and turns a bit to the left. And it further descends downward until it passes the Sun’s thermal flares at the bottom of the score. Afterwards it enters back into the Sun’s surface.

Read more about no 2. Winter here.

Wadada Leo Smith was born in Leland, Mississippi, and his musical life began in high school concert and marching bands. At the age of thirteen, he became involved with the Delta Blues and other music traditions.

Mr. Smith received his formal musical education from his stepfather Alex “Little Bill” Wallace, composer and guitarist, and one of the pioneers of electric guitar in Delta Blues. He was further educated through the U.S. Military band program at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (1963); Sherwood School of Music (1967-69); and Wesleyan University (1975-76). He has researched a variety of music cultures: African, Japanese, Indonesian, European and American.

Wadada Leo Smith, trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser is one of the most acclaimed creative artists of his times, both for his music and his writings. For the last five decades, Mr. Smith has been a member of the historical and legendary AACM collective. He distinctly defines his music as “Creative Music.” Mr. Smith’s diverse discography reveals a recorded history centered around important issues that have impacted his world.

Mr. Smith started his research and designs in search of Ankhrasmation in 1965. His first realization of this language was in 1967, which was illustrated in the recording of The Bell (Anthony Braxton: ‘Three Compositions of New Jazz’), and has played a significant role in his development as an artist, ensemble leader, and educator. Read more about Wadada Leo Smith here.

Presented by the College of Performing Arts.