from Nicholas Phillips 2014 album, American Vernacular, New Focus Recordings.

http://www.newfocusrecordings.com/catalogue/american-vernacular

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/american-vernacular-new-music/id787464547

On the Drawing of Constellations

I make experimental instrumental music, combining acoustic and digital instruments. I tend to work in a fragmentary and combinatorial way, layering, deconstructing and trial and error. I try to leave my composition process open to accident, discovery and re-invention. I hope this comes through in finished pieces. 

Eric Malmquist (b. 1985) writes earnestly heartfelt and engaging music. He draws on a deep love of early music and modern influences to produce works that are focused and emotional.

He has been commissioned by the Chicago Composers Orchestra, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, tubist Scott Tegge, the International Chamber Artists, the Newberry Consort and the Wicker Park Choral Singers.

His commissioned work Prairie Music for CYSO was featured on Chicago’s Ear Taxi Festival in October 2016 and at Midwest Clinic in December 2016. CCO and WPCS co-commissioned his Blemish’d Muse, a twenty-minute work for choir and orchestra, in 2016. His song cycle If You Travel Far Enough was the very first commission of the ICA, and was featured on Live from WFMT in 2015. Michael Hall premiered his Sonata for Viola and Piano in 2014, and Gaudete Brass premiered his Three Preludes in 2013.

His music has been performed outside of Chicago on both coasts and in Texas, and has been featured repeatedly on 98.7WFMT. His music has been recorded by VOX 3 on the disc “New Song” and by pianist Jonathan Hannau.

R.A. Moulds studied music at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Ben Hjertmann is a composer, songwriter, and vocalist.

Columbia College High School Summer Institute '02
Conservatorium Van Amsterdam '05
Illinois Wesleyan '07
Northwestern '13
Bang on a Can Summer Institute '13
Appalachian State University '14—>
Grant Wallace Band '11—>
Kong Must Dead '08—>