Jan
4
Sat
Sexageismal Celebration Premiere @ Central United Methodist Church
Jan 4 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Happy Birthday Phoenix Chamber Music Society!  As composer in residence I am honored to present Sexagesimal Celebration commemorating sixty years of world class performances in the Valley of the Sun.  Many thanks for the opportunity to join fellow sexteters Jaime Laredo, Pamela Frank, Milena Pajaro van de Stadt, Sharon Robinson, and Keith ‘Robby’ Robinson in wishing this community a very happy anniversary with many, many more.  

Sixty is important.  As a base evenly divided into 12 factors, time management is exposed as a 5 millennium old Sumerian relic.  Their cuneiform show transaction catalogs and praise poetry.  Their recorded lives demonstrate that our concerns as a species have not changed that much.

Base 60 easily pervades patterns of sound, rhythm and intervals, allowing ideas based on any of them to develop into a fantasy.  Melodies are inspired by the landscape throughout Arizona, with a nadir of wind gusting across fields toward the Verde River on the Biggs’ Farm to anticipate.

Deep and loving thanks go to the Biggs and Clements families for supporting one of the few composer in residence positions for chamber music in the country.  Thanks also to president of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society board Michael Maas, the entire board, and executive director Janet Green for encouraging this work to be heard tonight.  

Jan
31
Fri
Masterclass at Montclair State University @ Chaplin Hall, Montclair State University
Jan 31 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Nokuthula Ngwenyama works with select viola students at Montclair State University.

Feb
29
Sat
Joining the Phoenix Girls and Phoenix Boys Choirs @ Camelback Bible Church
Feb 29 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Sep
29
Tue
Tuning Up with Daniel Bernard Roumain @ Kerr Cultural Center
Sep 29 @ 7:30 pm – 8:15 pm
Nov
5
Thu
“Primal Message” orchestral world premiere with maestro Xian Zhang and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra @ Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center
Nov 5 @ 7:30 pm – 8:15 pm
Mar
5
Fri
Performance with Stephen Hartmann, harp for Phoenix Chamber Music Society’s Winter Festival @ Central United Methodist Church Courtyard
Mar 5 @ 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Mar
23
Tue
Bella Hristova performs the world premiere of ‘Miasma’ for solo violin @ Indiana Landmarks Center
Mar 23 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Sep
21
Tue
Lynn Harrell: In Remembrance @ Royce Hall
Sep 21 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

My heart fills with gratitude thinking about Lynn.  He was an inspiring mentor, teacher, colleague and friend.  Lynn’s soul was his sound, speaking directly to everyone who heard him.  

I remember hearing it live for the first time.  We met while recording ‘A Musical Encounter,’ the Emmy-nominated television show produced by Sylvia Kunin.  I was honored to appear with fellow Crossroads classmates Elena Hirsu (violin) and Atsushi Sakai (cello).  Mr. Lynn Harrell was the VIP MC.  He introduced our performances, then interviewed us with insight and humor.  He also spoke to the live audience of children with kindness and enthusiasm.  The resonating voice of his cello stunned us all.  

Through the years we became colleagues and friends.  I’m honored to have learned from him and always felt great warmth.  It was great fun joining as Sancho Panza to his Don Quixote.  Lynn’s charmed musicianship and vision of the world are sorely missed.  

Oct
30
Sat
‘Primal Message’ with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Xian Zhang conducting @ Southam Hall, National Arts Centre
Oct 30 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Click HERE to watch a rebroadcast of Primal Message with Maestro Xian Zhang conducting, courtesy of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Click HERE for program notes written by Dr. Hannah Chan-Hartley.

 

Nov
13
Sat
Nokuthula Ngwenyama joins Kelly Kuo and the Oregon Mozart Players @ First Baptist Church of Eugene
Nov 13 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Nokuthula Ngwenyama performs Tabakova’s ‘Suite in Old Style, The Court Jester Amareu’ and her arrangement of Arpeggione Sonata with Maestro Kelly Kuo and the Oregon Mozart Players.