“I am the sea / In my depths all treasures dwell / Have the divers asked about my pearls?” — Hafiz Ibrahim. This poem is echoed throughout the quietly devastating film that is “All That’s Left of You,” which premieres in Columbus at Gateway Film Center Thursday at 7:15 p.m. The film follows generations of […]
Eastern and International Premiere Performance of “Tzigane Sonate”
My “Tzigane Sonate” for violin and piano (formerly, “Gypsy Wanderer”) will be receiving its International and Eastern Premiere performance!
It was selected for performance in the 1st SOUNDS, EARS, MINDS chamber music concert in Guangzhou, China! This independently organized project, initiated by young composer Ruitao You, will feature a small-scale concert of contemporary music in late August 2025 in Guangzhou. More details on the concert are expected to come soon.
My piece is the only American piece represented, along with works from Colombia, Cuba, and China. I’m very honored to have been selected and hope the performers and audience will enjoy this challenging and colorful work!
Announcing “Flight of Ecstasy”!
Over the course of two weekends in June 2025, I had the immense privilege of participating in a three-concert series around Los Angeles County featuring SOCAL-CELLO-CENTRIC: a group of local composers and musicians. Twelve of us were invited to compose brand new original works featuring the cello in various ways, and we all pitched in together to perform each others’ works for local audiences.
For my part of this project, I embraced my long-time love of Nordic symphonic-metal — think bands like Within Temptation and Nightwish — to create a driving and fierce string trio called “Flight of Ecstasy”! Here, this video below takes the best moments from all three concerts during its premiere run to create a taste of what a joy it was to perform this work, joined with Julissa Bozman on viola and Kathryn Carson on cello.
https://youtu.be/zFK3o1V0zlc?si=CqIbtH0aH8DRxwzx
A studio recording is currently in the works, and you can grab the sheet music at this link and try it out for yourself!
#cello #classicalCrossover #livePerformance #livePremiere #metal #rock #sheetMusic #StringTrio #symphonicMetal #viola #violin
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #12
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Ethan Everts — we’ll be performing her work “Like Clockwork” for Dulcimer, Violin, Electric Cello, and Acoustic Cello.
Hope to see you at our concerts this and next weekend!
#cello #chamberMusic #dulcimer #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic #violin
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #11
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Kathryn Carlson — we’ll be performing her work “tune antennae” for Cello Trio.
Kathryn Carlson is a Los Angeles-based cellist specializing in contemporary music. She holds music degrees from UCSB and CSULB, where she performed with new music ensembles and in master classes with The Knights and Juilliard String Quartet. She also performs in musical theater, chamber music, and has recorded with several indie artists including Dante Elephante and Mad Hearts.
“tune antennae” began as a reflection on the sonic landscape of Catholic liturgy. The use of loop pedal draws the listener into ritual, while the stylistic departures pull away. We find peace and resolve at the end amongst a lush, romantic string texture. The title is taken from Rick Rubin: “The best artists tend to be the ones with the most sensitive antennae to draw in the energy resonating at a particular moment. Many great artists first develop sensitive antennae not to create art but to protect themselves. They have to protect themselves because everything hurts more. They feel everything more deeply.”
Keep following for more updates as the concert dates draw near!
#cello #chamberMusic #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #9
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Tim Pompey — we’ll be performing his work “Quaerens I” for Solo Cello.
Tim Pompey is a journalist, author, poet, and composer living on California’s Central Coast. His music compositions include works for piano, flute, cello, violin, and chamber orchestra. He currently works as a freelance writer for the Ventura County Reporter in Ventura, CA, and as a piano accompanist for the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Oxnard, CA. He is a graduate of Lee University in Cleveland, TN, Point Loma Graduate School of Theology in San Diego, CA, and North Park Seminary in Chicago, IL
Quaerens is a six-part composition for solo cello. In Latin, it means “seeking.” Each piece mirrors a stage in life from youth to old age and death and asks a fundamental question: Why are we here? In Quaerens I, the cello acts as an instrument of birth, each line looking for the right note and key to emerge. From embryo to birth and beyond, the music never stops seeking exactly what notes should follow, and in what order. The whole composition is a struggle to get it right. The audience is left to wonder.
Keep following for more updates as the concert dates draw near!
#cello #chamberMusic #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #8
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Susy Christiansen — we’ll be performing her work “Let it Out, Let it In” for Cello Quartet.
Susy Christiansen is a local composer whose music for piano, band, and orchestra has been published by Alfred Publishing. She’s also written music for radio and TV commercials, live theater, YouTube, apps, and online games. Susy currently serves on the board of the Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra, and plays in the orchestra’s cello section.
“Let It Out, Let It In” starts with a strongly stated rhythmic figure that is the theme of the piece, but then quickly disperses as the theme is ‘let out’ as small, quiet fragments. The following meter-less section contrasts with the rhythmic opening as the fragments slowly collect back together, building until they are again ‘let in’ together at the end.
Keep following for more updates as the concert dates draw near!
#cello #chamberMusic #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #7
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Ernest Phan — we’ll be performing his work “The Road Not Taken” for String Quartet.
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both”
This composition takes its name and inspiration from the well-known poem by Robert Frost. Frost wrote “The Road Not Taken” about his friend, who felt unable to choose between the two splitting paths at a fork in the road during their walks. However, the poem holds a deeper meaning about how a decision has the potential to transform our lives. This composition aims to capture the spirit of the poem, depicting the gentleness of a morning walk and the beautiful landscape of rural America. The theme of the composition was written in Anglo-American folk music style using the text from the poem as its lyrics. It was then used to develop a set of four variations.
Variation 1, Prelude, features improvisation as a good illustration of choices and decision-making. Variation 2, A Walk in the Woods, features pizzicato stacked rhythm patterns in different meters. Variation 3, This Was the Path that I Chose, is a lyrical section, with the theme stated by the first violin. Variation 4, Barn Dance, lets us imagine that maybe the path that Frost and his friend took that morning led them by a farm where they heard local folk musicians playing… and perhaps, we could always use a barn dance to celebrate the choices we have made in our lives.
“…I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference”
Keep following for more updates as the concert dates draw near!
#cello #chamberMusic #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic #StringQuartet #viola #violin
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #6
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Richard Bruner — we’ll be performing his work “Night in the Park” for Dulcimer, Violin, and Cello.
Richard Bruner is a string-focused multi-genre composer and multi-instrumentalist, with a focus on viola and violin in classical and Celtic fiddle music. Originally from Wilmette, IL north of Chicago, Richard started violin at age 3, started composing fiddle music at age 9, and had his first classical world premiere in 8th grade with a string quartet.
Richard attended the Berklee College of Music, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Film Scoring in 2012 before moving to Los Angeles to work in the commercial and film music world. He has been a composer, music copyist, studio tech, and production music library manager, along with writing for and performing in several community and semi-professional symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles, including the Symphony of the Verdugos and the San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra. He also writes for and plays fiddle and tin whistles with the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles.
Richard recently earned his Master of Music degree in Music Composition from California State University, Northridge, graduating with distinction in 2025. He worked as a music theory and musicianship tutor while at CSUN, opening his own composition, music theory, and music production teaching studio upon graduating.
Keep following for more updates as the concert dates draw near!
#cello #chamberMusic #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic #violin
SOCAL • CELLO • CENTRIC June 2025: Composer Highlight #5
I’m participating in a concert series of new music this June! We’ll be performing all-original, string-centric music on three dates (see photo below for info).
To help promote this collaboration, I’ll be sharing features on the composers involved!
Today, say hi to Martha Wilcox — we’ll be performing her work “Breath” for Viola and two Cellos.
Martha Wilcox is a visual artist with a BFA and graduate study in sculpture. This musical composition, “Breath”, will be the basis of a soundtrack for a new video art piece. It explores with whimsy the respiratory rhythms of the planet and universe, and all the bodies huge and tiny that comprise it.
Keep following for more updates as the concert dates draw near!
#cello #chamberMusic #liveConcert #livePerformance #livePremiere #newMusic #originalMusic #viola
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Sarah Wallin Huff