The Shorter College New Music Series was founded in 2007 in response to a recommendation from the National Association of Schools of Music that we provide more opportunities for the students of Shorter College to experience and perform contemporary art music. The hallmark of the Series will be a sequence of world-premiere commissions from up-and-coming composers that will be performed and recorded by the faculty and students of Shorter College’s music department.

It is our hope that the inauguration of this Series will, over time, create a rich body of published and recorded literature that will nurture the students of Shorter College, enrich the audiences of Northwest Georgia, and create significant contributions to the canon of American art song, keyboard music, and choral repertoire.

New Music Series 2009

The first New Music Series commission has already been contracted, and will be premiered in the fall of 2009. Jocelyn Hagen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, will write two new works for voice and piano: a short song cycle for baritone and piano and a duet for soprano and tenor. The premiere of these works will take place in Brookes Chapel at Shorter College on September 14th, 2009. In the workshops and lectures that will surround this event, students and faculty will have the opportunity to meet Ms. Hagen, discuss her career and compositional decisions, and coach her repertoire with her.

Jocelyn Hagen Sunday, September 14, 2009 Brookes Chapel www.jocelynhagen.com Read bio>

New Music Series 2007

The first installment of the New Music Series occured on September 17, 2007, and featured works by Shorter College's faculty and student composers; Professor of Music Dr. Sam Baltzer, Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Linda Lister, and sophomore Thomas Williams all had works perfomed on this concert. Other works by Arnold Schoenberg, Olivier Messiaen, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Robert Muczynski, and Oliver Knussen rounded out the program.

Composers Sought

Shorter College is currently seeking a Composer-in-Residence for the 2011-2112 academic year. The selected composer will receive a commission fee, accomodations, and round-trip transportation to Rome, Georgia for an evening devoted to his or her music. In exchange, the composer will agree to write at least one new work which will receive its premiere as part of the Shorter College New Music Series.

For consideration, interested composers may send materials and inquiries to:

Dr. Matthew Hoch
Director, New Music Series
Shorter College - 315 Shorter Ave.
Rome, GA 30165-4267
mhoch@shorter.edu