Featured event
the orient
Sunday, April 30th, 2023 8:30pm
Constellation
3111 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
(Tickets) (Facebook) (YouTube)
On the eve of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, pianist and composer Shi-An Costello premieres his solo piano composition, the orient: a reacquisition of a fantasy. Inspired by dense harmony and counterpoint, neo-romanticism, and sparse American minimalism, Costello unpacks heavy Asian American topics and events, such as model minority, assimilation, the US transcontinental railroad and the memory of Vincent Chin, and brings them to life through a musical fantasia ultimately about hope and resilience. The 5-movement work is musically inspired by the “Asian Riff”, a three-note pentatonic melody that stereotypically signifies Asian culture, while incorporating railroad track rhythms, Mandarin intonation flashcards, and opium-induced hallucinations, among other sounds. This performance is presented in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago.
Spring 2023
Full schedule coming soon!
Fall 2022
Sept 25th (Sun): The music of Arvo Pärt at Constellation (Solo/chamber)
Oct 1st (Sat): The _____ Experiment video premiere of Three Oblong Studies.
Oct 7th & 8th (Fri/Sat): Premiere of String Quartet for. A Piano Sendoff at The Comfort Station (Solo)
Oct 22nd (Fri): Francis Yun plays For Harpsichord at The Garth Newel Music Center
Nov 5th (Sun): Keymore Festival Preview Discussion #1 at ESS The Quarantine Concerts (Lead Curator)
Nov 20th (Sun): Keymore Festival Preview Discussion #2 at ESS The Quarantine Concerts (Lead Curator)
Nov 5th (Sun): Online Preview feat. Dr. Francis Yun (composer, multi-instrumentalist) (watch)
Nov 10th (Thurs): Solo Improvisations at Fulton Street Collective (Solo)
Nov 20th (Sun): Online Preview feat. Rhapsody Snyder (Executive Director, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic) (watch)
Dec 6th (Tues): NMC Composition Competition Winners Concert at Experimental Sound Studio (Panel Judge)
Dec 11th (Sun): Online Preview feat. Richard Coburn, (Director, BIPOC Voices) (watch at ESS TQC)
Dec 16th (Fri): Online Preview feat. Aeryn Santillan (Inaugural Keymore Commissioned Composer) and Dr. David Reminick (watch at ESS TQC)
Dec 17th (Sun): Inaugural Concert, world premieres by Aeryn Santillan, Shi-An Costello, performances by Francis Yun and Shi-An. PianoForte Studios, Chicago (purchase $30 tickets here).
Dec 20th (Tues): encores for piano, Elliott Lupp's windows 1-5 world premiere, Igor Santos new work world premiere, and works by Chicago based composers at NMC Presents Livestream at Experimental Sound Studio (Solo)