EXT Pop Ups is an ongoing series of short-form concerts spotlighting today’s most promising emerging composers, held in non-traditional venues and unexpected locations. This series provides up-and-coming young composers with commissioning and mentorship opportunities, and a platform to have their music performed and premiered by professional musicians.
Announcing the Inaugural 2023 EXT Pop-Ups Commission Contest Winner: Hannah Chen
EXTENSITY is proud to announce the selection of Hannah Chen (she/her) as the recipient of the 2023 EXT Pop-Ups Commission Contest in partnership with Wildflower Composers. She received a $500 award to compose a 5-8 minute piece for unaccompanied cello. The piece, titled “Serenity” will be premiered online by cellist Audrey Chen on Saturday, July 20th, ‘24 at 1pm. See EVENTS below for details.
PROJECT:
In Hannah’s words: “Serenity” reflects the importance of tea in various cultures. Tea can often be a calming ritual that brings people together and strengthens community…In this piece, I aim to capture the feeling of stillness and calmness that I associate with tea culture. I use aspects of aleatoric notation to fully utilize the wide range of sound on the instrument. Using this notation, the piece starts spacious and free and builds to a flowing, ambient soundscape. Some of the sounds I utilize include harmonics, circular bowing and air sounds/white noise, and other sounds that are similar in timbre to water or flowing tea. More tonal material is slowly introduced, still reflecting the serene ritual that tea represents but adding harmonic and textural variety…I want this piece to bridge the gap between composer, performer, and audience and to serve as a visceral, meditative experience.”
BIOGRAPHY:
Hannah Chen (b. 2006) is a composer and harpist from the San Francisco Bay Area. She attends Oakland School for the Arts and San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College, studying composition with Mario Godoy and harp with Jennifer Ellis. Hannah is the principal harpist of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and has previously been the harpist for the Contra Costa Wind Symphony. As a composer, Hannah’s pieces have been premiered and performed by SFCM students and faculty members, the Argus Quartet, Music at the Mission’s Chamberfest, and at Wildflower Composers’ Camp. https://www.hannahchenmusic.com/
EVENTS
World Premiere of "Serenity" by Hannah Chen
Presenting the virtual world premiere of Hannah Chen’s “Serenity” performed by cellist Audrey Chen.
Watch for free via EXT’s YouTube or click “View Event” to watch on the website.
Illuminations: Chelsea Randall & Francesca Khalifa, pianists (California)
Pianists and EXTENSITY co-founders Chelsea Randall and Francesca Khalifa bring EXTENSITY’s new EXT Pop Ups Series (short-form concerts spotlighting emerging composers) to California, with a adventurous duo-recital featuring West Coast premieres by talented young composers, in partnership with Wildflower Composers.
Illuminations: Chelsea Randall & Francesca Khalifa, pianists. EXTENSITY Benefit Concert (California)
EXTENSITY launches the EXT Pop Ups Series (short-form concerts spotlighting emerging composers) in California, with a benefit concert for EXTENSITY’s commissioning fund featuring pianists and co-founders Chelsea Randall and Francesca Khalifa.