The 51st annual John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium will take place at The University of New Mexico’s Keller Hall on March 22-24 and March 27. The event, promoted by the UNM Robb Trust, consists of a series of public concerts and master classes for UNM students. All events are free.

Featured artists-in-residence are Splinter Reeds woodwind ensemble and composer Sky Macklay.

Wednesday, March 22

The symposium begins with a John Donald Robb concert Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The performers will play compositions by John Donald Robb, Paul Marquardt, Levi Raleigh Brown, Daniel Davis, and others. Musicians include the Moving Lines Ensemble (Charlotte Leung on alto saxophone, Adrian Gomez cello, Levi Raleigh Brown percussion, John Barney spoken word); David Felberg and Ruxandra Marquardt, violin; Laura Tait Chang, viola; Amy Huzjak, cello; UNM faculty, alumni, and others to be announced.

The program will include four world premieres: 

•

String Quartet No. 2, Op. 38, Robb transcribed for saxophone quartet, Chris Orphal saxophone quartet transcription world premiere 

•

Gems Out of Darkness, Miniatures for String Quartet (1981/2014), Daniel Davis 

•

Painting for Strings, Beth Ratay 

•

Escalator (2019), Levi Raleigh Brown 

 The public is cordially invited to a free reception in the lobby of Keller Hall following the concert.

Thursday, March 23

Students are invited on Thursday to five Splinter Reeds master classes from 2 p.m.-2:55p.m. on the UNM campus.

  • Chamber Music master class, UNM Keller Hall — Bill Kalinkos, clarinetist with Splinter Reeds, will coach a rehearsal of UNM's contemporary music ensemble, New Mexico New Music.
  • Oboe master class, UNM Center for the Arts, alcove — Kyle Bruckman, oboist with Splinter Reeds, will work with UNM oboe students.
  • Clarinet master class, UNM Center for the Arts, 2100 — Jeff Anderle, bass clarinetist with Splinter Reeds, will work with UNM clarinet students. 
  • Saxophone master class, UNM Center for the Arts, B120 — David Wegehaupt, saxophonist with Splinter Reeds, will work with UNM saxophone students. 
  • Bassoon master class, UNM Center for the Arts, B134 — Dana Jessen, bassoonist with Splinter Reeds, will work with UNM bassoon students.

The Splinter Reeds concert Music from the Americas Concert Series will be at 7:30 p.m. at Keller Hall. They will play compositions by Cara Haxo, Sky Macklay, Laura Cetilia, Niloufar Nourbakhsh, and Paula Matthusen.

The program will include: 

  • Exercices (2017), Cara Haxo 
  • Choppy (2017), Sky Macklay 
  • adrift (2019), Laura Cetilia
  • Firing Squad (2018), Niloufar Nourbakhsh 
  • Antenna Studies (2018), Paula Matthusen

Friday, March 24

The UNM Student Composers Concert with Splinter Reeds will be at 7:30 p.m. at Keller Hall. Composers include Axel Retif, Carlos Arellano, Chris Orphal, Doug Falk, Jude Harb, and Thomas Ropp. The program includes: 

  • PentaClash (2023) Jude Harb
  • Amalgamation (2023) Doug Falk
  • Maverick (2022) Thomas Ropp
  • Eco IV (2023) Carlos Arellano
  • Ripples of Luminescence, Both Delectable and Foetid (2023), Chris Orphal

Monday, March 27

A Sky Macklay master class will be held from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the UNM Center for the Arts — room number to be announced. Macklay will coach UNM composition students. 

For more information click here.