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 poster session featuring 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.

(subject to change)

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

Click here to view the Digital Program for Concert I

Albin Fiskesjö: Blomster - JMU Chamber Orchestra; Dalton Guin, conductor

Texu Kim: Dub Stravinsky - JMU faculty performers

Margaret Brouwer: Sonata for bassoon and piano - Sue Barber, bassoon; Lori Piitz, piano

Judith Shatin: Premiere of new flute ensemble work - JMU Flute Choir

Texu Kim: Philos Hilaron
Paul John Rudoi: We Sing On
Colin Cossi: String Theory

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

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

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

Click here to view the Digital Program for Concert II

Christopher Biggs: 10 to the Power of Negative 33 - Šarūnas Jankauskas, clarinet

Cecilia Livingston: Parting - Kirsten Blair, soprano; Amy Robertson, piano

Sawyer Gage: Divine Aspirations - Sasha Velgosha & Alyssa Conde, piano

Chen Yi: China West Suite - Runze Bai & Ying Zhang, piano

Annie McAninch: Trevi for 3 bassoons

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

Click here to view the Digital Program for Concert III

Robert Smith: The Great Locomotive Chase
Zachary Docter: Prairie Dance

performed by Eastern Mennonite School Orchestra; Maria Lorcas & Zachary Docter, directors

Texu Kim: All Out! (commissioned by the JMU Symphony Orchestra)
Texu Kim: Dub Sanjo
Texu Kim: Blow, Fly, Pop!

performed by JMU Symphony Orchestra; Kira Omelchenko, director

Brian Balmages: Opening Night
Klaus Badelt/arr. Ted Ricketts: Pirates of the Caribbean

performed by combined EMS & JMU Orchestras; Kira Omelchenko, conductor

---Intermission---

John Mackey: Symphony No. 2 ("This isle is full of noises")

performed by JMU Wind Symphony; Chris Cicconi, director

9:00 — Ending reception (Forbes Grand Lobby)