New Music Festival

The mission of the New Music Festival is to expose students and the community to new music by providing the platform for composers to bring their work to life through collaboration with their peers. The Conservatory of Music is dedicated to promoting the creation of new works by renowned composers and has to date commissioned eight compositions for a variety of ensembles from mixed trios to chamber symphonies. More than 90 premieres have been given since 2007. This collection exhibits programs of the festival

Composer-In-Residence

2007 - James Stephenson, III
2008 - Bruce Polay
2009 - Joseph Turrin
2010 - Kenneth Frazelle
2011 - Gunther Schuller
2012 - Thomas McKinley
2013 - Donald Waxman
2014 - Shirley J. Thompson
2015 - David Noon
2016 - Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
2017 - Eric Ewazen
2018 - Scott Wheeler
2019 - Yevgeniy Sharlat
2020 - Christopher Theofanids
2021/2022 - John Harbison
2023 - Marti Epstein
2024 - Katherine Balch

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2023-2024 New Music Festival

Lisa Leonard and Katherine Balch

The 18th Annual New Music Festival
- Katherine Balch, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Direcor
Friday, January 19, 2024
- Spotlight 1: Emerging Composers
Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM
- Master Class with katherine Balch: Sound and Art Installation
Saturday, January 202, 2024 at 4:00 PM
- Red and Record Project: Contemporary Cuban Music for Clarinet and Piano
Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM
- Spotlight 2: The Art of Katherine Balch
2022-2023 New Music Festival

Lisa Leonard and Marti Epstein

The 17th Annual New Music Festival
- Marti Epstein, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Friday, April 21, 2023
- Spotlight 1: Emerging Composers
Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 2:00 PM
- Master Class and Workshop with Marti Epstein: Bach's Relevance and Far Reach
Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 4:00 PM
- Read and Record Project
Sunday, April 23, 2023
- Spotlight 2: The Art of Marti Epstein
2021-2022 New Music Festival

Lisa Leonard and John Harbison

The 16th Annual New Music Festival
- John Harbison, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Friday, April 15, 2022
- Spotlight 1: Emerging Composers
Saturday, April 16, 2022
- Masterclass with John Harbison
Sunday, April 17, 2022
- Spotlight 2: The Art of John Harbison
2020-2021 New Music Festival "A Global Harvest"

Lisa Leonard and Lynn University Conservatory of Music

Introduction from Professor Lisa Leonard, the festival director

Welcome to the 15th Annual New Music Festival at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music! For 14 seasons, we have been welcoming renowned composers to take residency at the Conservatory to directly work with our students preparing three main events: a concert of emerging composers featuring student composers and performers, a master class/lecture focused on the creative and practical issues of contemporary music, and a full program solely featuring the works of the guest composer, including the premiere of the annual commissioned work.

We were thrilled when John Harbison agreed to serve as our 2021 composer-in-residence and then, with the rest of the world, were forced to change our plans. Although we diverged from our traditional program content, I was able to preserve the mission of the festival which encourages direct contact between composers and performers who in turn, share music that is brand new, off the beaten track, or simply, overlooked.

I’ve titled the Festival, “A Global Harvest,” which reflects the whereabouts of our student body, spread out over five continents. The first event, Spotlight I: Emerging Composers, remained true to its traditional role, kicking off the Festival with world premieres that were performed and recorded in person and on- campus in the Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall.

Students were also given the option to identify and perform music from the African diaspora or living composers from their homeland. 55 performers recorded 46 works from 14 countries including 8 premieres! It was a record-breaking year, boasting a larger output than we have ever achieved before.

Thanks to a major grant from the office of Florida Cultural Affairs, highlights of the festival have been combined into a video, giving this incredible music a chance to be heard by many for years to come. Enjoy exploring the world’s music- there are few things as exciting!
2019-2020 New Music Festival

Christopher Theofanids and Lisa Leonard

Fourteenth Annual New Music Festival
- Christopher Theofanidis, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 4:00 PM
- Faculty Favorites
Monday, January 13, 2020 at 7:30 PM
- Spotlight I: Young Composers
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 7:30 PM
- Spotlight II: Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at 7:30 PM
- Spotlight III: The Art of Theofanidis
2018-2019 New Music Festival

Yevgeniy Sharlat and Lisa Leonard

Thirteenth Annual New Music Festival
- Yevgeniy Sharlat, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Friday, January 18, 2019 at 7:30 PM
- Spotlight I: Young Composers
Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1:00 PM
- Master Class with Yevgeniy Sharlat
Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 4:00 PM
- Spotlight II: Yevgeniy Sharlat
Commissioned Work

Air on the G for Trumpet, Viola, and Piano
2017-2018 New Music Festival

Scott Wheeler and Lisa Leonard

Twelfth Annual New Music Festival
- Scott Wheeler, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Friday, January 19, 2018 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight I: Young Composers
Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 1:00 pm
- Master Class with Scott Wheeler
Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 4:00 pm
- Spotlight II: Scott Wheeler
Commissioned Work

Nightingale: Scenes from a Ballet by Scott Wheeler. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2016-2017 New Music Festival

Eric Ewazen and Lisa Leonard

Eleventh Annual New Music Festival
- Eric Ewazen, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Friday, January 20, 2017 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight I: Young Composers
Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 1:00 pm
- Master Class with Eric Ewazen
Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight II: Music of Eric Ewazen
2015-2016 New Music Festival

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Lisa Leonard

Tenth Annual Music Festival
- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight I: Young Composers
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 7:30 pm
- Master Class with Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Thursday, February 25, 2016 at: 7:30 pm
- Spotlight II: Music of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Friday, February 26, 2016 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight III: An Informance with Penderecki String Quartet
2014-2015 New Music Festival

David Noon and Lisa Leonard

Ninth Annual New Music Festival
- David Noon, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight I: Young Composers
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at 7:30 pm
- Master Class with David Noon
Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight II: The Music of David Noon
Commissioned Work

Divertimenti for Winds, op. 255 by David Noon. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2013-2014 New Music Festival

Lisa Leonard and Shirley J. Thompson

Eighth Annual New Music Festival
- Shirley J. Thompson, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Faculty Concert
Sunday, February 24, 2014 at 7:30 pm
- Contemporary Music Forum - Post Modernism: Contemporary Influences in Art Music
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Young Composers
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Shirley J. Thompson
Commissioned Work

Tequesta Song for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano by Shirley J. Thompson. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2012-2013 New Music Festival

Donald Waxman and Lisa Leonard

Seventh Annual New Music Festival
- Donald Waxman, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Monday, October 1, 2012 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight 1: Young Composers
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 7:30 pm
- Contemporary Forum
Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight 2: Donald Waxman
2011-2012 New Music Festival

Thomas McKinley and Lisa Leonard

Sixth Annual New Music Festival
- Thomas McKinley, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Young Composers
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm
- Contemporary Forum
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight 2: Thomas McKinley
Commissioned Work

Double Visions for Clarinet, Violin, Cello & Piano by Thomas Lawrence McKinley. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2010-2011 New Music Festival

Gunther Schuller and Lisa Leonard

Fifth Annual New Music Festival
- Gunther Schuller, Artist-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 7:30 pm
- Defining Modernism: Faculty Favorites
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Young Composers
Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 7:30 pm
- Contemporary Forum: Schuller Masterclass
2009-2010 New Music Festival

Kenneth Frazelle and Lisa Leonard

Fourth Annual New Music Festival
- Kenneth Frazelle, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 4:00 pm
- Defining Modernism: Faculty Favorites
Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Young Composers
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 7:30 pm
- Contemporary Music Forum
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight: Kenneth Frazelle
Commissioned Work

Gee's Bend Pieces for Trumpet, Percussion and Piano by Kenneth Frazelle. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2008-2009 New Music Festival

Joseph Turrin and Lisa Leonard

Third Annual New Music Festival
- Joseph Turrin, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 7:30 pm
- Opening Night Faculty Concert
- Venue: Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall
Friday, April 24, 2009 at 7:30 pm
- Forum (Panel: Kenneth Amis, Thomas McKinley, Joseph Turrin ; Mediator: Lisa Leonard)
- Venue: Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall
Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 4:00 pm
- Young Composers
- Venue: Amarnick-Goldstein Concert Hall
Monday, April 27, 2009 at 7:30 pm
- Joseph Turrin Spotlight
- Venue: Louis and Anne Green Center for the Expressive Arts
Commissioned Work

Joseph Turrin, the composer-in-residence, composed a musical work called, Chamber Symphony, for this festival. In 2016, Turrin revised the work and named it, Symphony Celestium. The full score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2007-2008 New Music Festival

Bruce Polay and Lisa Leonard

Second Annual New Music Festival

Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 7:30 pm
- Opening Night: A Contemporary Music Celebration
Friday, March 14, 2008 at 10:30 am
- Contemporary Forum (Panel: Bruce Polay, Thomas McKinley and Sandra Robbins)
Monday, March 17, 2008 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight on Young Composers
Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 7:30 pm
- Spotlight on Bruce Polay
Commissioned Work

String Quartet No. 1 by Bruce Polay. The score is displayed in the Creative Works collection.
2006-2007 New Music Festival

James Stephenson III, Lisa Leonard, and Thomas McKinley

First Annual New Music Festival
- James Stephenson, III, Composer-in-Residence
- Lisa Leonard, Director
Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 7:30 pm
- Performance
Friday, February 2, 2007
- A Forum on Contemporary Music with Composers, Thomas McKinley and James Stephenson, III