The 44th Annual JMU Contemporary Music Festival

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Guest Composer - Viet Cuong

This year, we are offering a one-day festival, filled with music, discussion, research, and more. There will be three concerts, two receptions, and a poster session featuring JMU contemporary music scholarship. Faculty, students, and major ensembles will be performing the music of guest composer Viet Cuong and much more on the concerts, beginning at 2:00pm.

(subject to change)

2:00pm — Concert I (Forbes Concert Hall)

Cuong: Electric Aroma

Jolley: Lilac Tears

Cuong: Apparition

Cuong: Prized Possessions

More TBA

featuring: Beth Cahill, Šarūnas Jankauskas, Casey Cangelosi, Paulo Steinberg, Esther Nyberg, Anthony Cincotta, Geneva Maldonado, & The Madison Chorale directed by Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy

3:00pm — Poster Research Presentation and Reception (Forbes Grand Lobby)

4:00pm — Concert II (Forbes Recital Hall)

Cangelosi: Blink

Vu: Unveiling

Montgomery: Rhapsody No. 2 for solo viola

Haney: Preludes 4-6

DeVasto: Among the Trees

Myers: Painting with Knives

Bayolo: Otoño

featuring: Aaron Trumbore, Casey Cangelosi, Diane Phoenix-Neal, Carl Donakowski, Wanchi Huang, Jason Haney, Bluestone Quartet, Esther Nyberg, & Anthony Cincotta

7:00pm — Concert III (Forbes Concert Hall)

Symphony & String Orchestra works TBA

-Intermission-

Cuong: John and Jim

Cuong: Moth

Cuong: Renewal

featuring: JMU Symphony Orchestra directed by Kira Omelchenko with Harrisonburg High School Strings, JMU Symphonic Band directed by Chris DeVona, & the JMU Wind Symphony directed by Chris Cicconi

9:00 — Ending reception (Forbes Grand Lobby)