New Music Ensemble

Nicole Paiement, Director
Jacques Desjardins, Assistant Conductor

The New Music Ensemble involves students in the classical music of their own time. Members of the ensemble, who are accepted by audition, perform a variety of works written in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in four major concerts each year. The works range from twentieth-century classics to brand new works by contemporary composers. Personal contact with composers is provided whenever possible. In addition, several concerts and readings of works by student composers are presented each year.

The BluePrint project, founded by artistic director Nicole Paiement in 2002 with support of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, is a series focused on building new music for the city. Receiving rave reviews from the press as being "...something remarkable and unique in the big bad city...". It has quickly gained a reputation for presenting unique and challenging programs. In its first season, BluePrint honored the work and students of Oliver Messiaen, as well as apprentices of Darius Milhaud at Mills College, both of which attracked composers all over the world. BluePrint has collaborated with the Internation Women Composers and Other Minds Festivals, American Conservatory Theater, and conducted the American premiere of Hanna Kulenty's Flute Concerto. More rcently the series has celebrated the achievements of Ligeti, Weill and Dutilleux among other composers.

2012-2013 Conservatory New Music Season Schedule

Dancas Nativas
October 6, 2012, 8:00PM Concert Hall ($20/$15)
Carlos Sanchez Gutierrez Calacas y Palomas
Osvaldo Golijov Tenebrae
Clarice Assad Dancas Nativas
Robert Sierra Of Discoveries

Pre-concert talk at 7:15PM

Saudades do Brasil
David Tanenbaum, guitar
November 17, 2012, 8:00PM Concert Hall ($20/$15)
Darius Milhaud Saudades do Brasil (excerpts)
Armando Luna Graffiti
Jorge Liderman Aged Tunes
Chris Pratorius Madrigal: Neruda's Poema 20 (world premiere, BluePrint commission)

Pre-concert talk at 7:15PM

Special Project: Opera Parallèle / Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
February 15-16, 2013, 8:00PM
February 17, 2013, 2:00PM
Osvaldo Golijov Ainadamar 
(tickets: 415.978.ARTS or ybca.org)

Tandy's Tango
March 2, 2013, 8:00PM ($20/$15)
Ian Dicke Grand Central (Hoefer Prize winner)
Lou Harrison Tandy's Tango 
Leo Brouwer String Quartet No. 4
Tania Leon Indigena
Daniel Catan Encantamiento

Pre-concert talk at 7:15PM

Castle Gesualdo
April 13, 2012, 8:00PM Recital Hall (free)
Dante De Silva Castle Gesualdo
Public reading of new opera commissioned by Opera Parallele

Pre-concert talk at 7:15PM