Mimir Chamber Music Festival (USA and Melbourne) 2017

Mimir Chamber Music Festival, 26 June-7 July, 2017 (Fort Worth, Texas) and 28 August-3 September, 2017 (Melbourne) 1. Research Background The Mimir Chamber Music Festival is an internationally recognized chamber music series held annually in Fort Worth, Texas (1998-present) and in Melbourne, Australia (2013-present). I perform dual roles as curator and performing artist. Mimir features internationally recognized musicians from North America and Australia. 2. Research Contribution In its 20-year history, Mimir has presented a wide array of compositions including the complete cycle of Beethoven’s 16 string quartets. Since 2013, Mimir has presented each year Australian premiers of works by living composers. Compositions which I performed included the Texas and Australian premieres of the following works: From Amber Frozen (performed 2016) by Mason Bates; Concussion Theory (performed 2015) by Kenji Bunch; Homonculus (performed 2014) by Esa-Pekka Salonen; Hungarian Folk Songs for String Quartet (performed 2013) by Dana Wilson; and the Australians premieres of Credo (performed 2017) by Kevin Puts and Tales from Chelm (performed 2013) by Paul Schoenfeld. Concerts featured a stellar array of musicians from North America, including leaders of the United States’ most prestigious performing ensembles, such as the Chicago Symphony, Houston Symphony, Nashville Symphony and The Cleveland Orchestra, and three Grammy Award-nominated recording artists. In addition to giving five public performances in Texas and four in Melbourne, Mimir Artists were engaged in high-level teaching and supervision of young pre-professional quartets from Australia and the United States. 3. Research Significance Performances were reviewed in the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and TheaterJones.com, and in Melbourne by Clive O’Connell, critic for The Age. I have an interest in works from all periods, and performing new compositions is an ongoing research initiative. Performing the Australian premiere of Kevin Puts’ quartet Credo contributed to my ongoing interest in the discovery and promotion of new music.