2026 Contemporary Music Festival

The 45th Annual JMU Contemporary Music Festival

Sunday, November 1, 2026

Guest Composer - Texu Kim

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 celebration of Korean culture featuring traditional Korean instruments with demonstration, traditional hanbok dress, and a poster session on JMU contemporary music scholarship. Faculty, students, and major ensembles will be performing the music of guest composer Texu Kim and much more on the concerts, beginning at 2:00pm.

This festival is made possible by the College of Visual and Performing Arts and the School of Music. The educational and cultural outreach of Texu Kim’s participation in the festival has been supported in part by the Seed Program for Korean Studies, Dr. Gui Hwan Lee, Project Director.

Special thanks to Dr. Rachel Grimsby for organizing the Korean Cultural Exhibition.

Events & Programs

(subject to change)

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

Click here to view the Digital Program for Concert I

Blomster (2025) - Albin Fiskesjö

I. Vallmo
II. Passionblomma
III. Flädersblom

JMU Chamber Orchestra, Kira Omelchenko, director; Dalton Guin, conductor

Dub-Stravinksy (2017) - Texu Kim

Šarūnas Jankauskas, clarinet; Sue Barber, bassoon; Chris Carrillo, trumpet; Andy Lankford, trombone; Casey Cangelosi, percussion; Patrick Shaughnessy, violin; Sam Suggs, bass

Sonata for bassoon and piano (2026) - Margaret Brouwer

I. Andante
II. Allegro

Sue Barber, bassoon; Lori Piitz, piano

In the Theatre of Air (2026) - Judith Shatin

JMU Flute Ensemble, Beth Chandler Cahill, director; Isabel Aviles, conductor

Emma Manning, piccolo; Joshua Brancaleone, Beth Chandler Cahill, Harley Fitch, Addison Lewallen, Emma Lisson, Moriah Stachitas, C flutes; Vanessa Britton, Brogan Johanson, alto flutes; Julia Crum, Michael Discenza, Ian Graff, bass flutes

We Sing On* (2025) - Paul John Rudoi

String Theory* (2025) - Colin Cossi
John Meshreky, cello; Colin Cossi, graduate conductor

Phos Hilaron (O Gracious Light)* (2021) - Texu Kim

*performed by The Madison Singers; Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy, director/conductor

3:00pm — Korean Cultural Exhibition and Reception (Forbes Grand Lobby)

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

Click here to view the Digital Program for Concert II

10 to the Power of Negative 33 (2008) - Christopher Biggs

Šarūnas Jankauskas, clarinet, with recorded electronic sound

from Setting Sail (2022) - Juliana Hall

I. "Setting Sail"
III. "If I can stop one heart from breaking"
VI. "Down Time's quaint stream"
IX. "Faith is a fine invention"
XI. "Look back on time with kindly eyes"

"Parting" (2012) - Cecilia Livingston

Kirsten Blair, soprano; Amy Robertson, piano

Trevi (2024) - Anne McAninch

Sue Barber, Hannah Gerick, David Kang, bassoons

Divine Aspirations (2025) - Sawyer Gage

I. The Omnipresent Voice
II. In Pursuit of Enlightenment

Aleksandra Velgosha & Alyssa Conde, piano

China West Suite (2007) - Chen Yi

I. Introduction
II. Meng Songs
III. Zang Songs
IV. Miao Dances

Runze Bai & Ying Zhang, piano

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

Click here to view the Digital Program for Concert III