Overview
Throughout the week of Emerging Composers Intensive at Hidden Valley, there are a variety of public events for music lovers to explore, experience, and enjoy. There are 2 open rehearsals, 3 public classes (that are free to attend!), 2 Discovery Series events, and 2 final main concerts that include the world premieres of the emerging composers’ music written for the program. See below the variety of ways you can explore the week, support our emerging composers, and maybe even discover something you didn’t know you love!
For full details of all events, visit Event Details.
Timeline
- Sunday June 26th
Open Rehearsal #1
First Encounter
- Monday June 27th
Public Class #1
Emerging Composers Lab
Open Rehearsal #2
Young Beethoven and Dvořák’s Torrent of Creativity
- Wednesday June 29th
Public Class #2
Engage Beyond the Music with Performance Today host Fred Child
Discovery Series #1
Is New Music Scary? | The Power and Passion of Composers Today
- Thursday June 30th
Public Class #3
Cindy’s Charm School of Community Building
Discovery Series #2
The Stories and Experiences that Turned into Music
- Friday July 1st
Concert #1
Beethoven | Young and Brilliant
- Saturday July 2nd
Concert #2
Dvořák | Torrent of Creativity
We would love your input to help us select the Performance Today Prizewinners!
By attending both concert programs of ECI, you will receive a
Performance Today Prize ballot to vote for your favorite emerging
composer’s work to be featured on Performance Today* in the 2022-2023
season. Ballots will be collected and calculated right after the
concert on July 2nd. Results will be announced at the reception.
Event Packages
Explorer's Pass
$50 to attend any three events of your choice (does not include a ballot to vote for the Performance Today Prize unless both concerts are attended)
Performance Today Pass
$50 Includes tickets for the 2 main concerts + 1 ballot to vote for the Performance Today Prize + a chance to win Hidden Valley Virtuosi concert tickets, CDs, gift cards to local favorites, and more.
Connoisseur's Special
Individual Event Tickets
Main Concerts
Beethoven | Young and Brilliant
Friday July 1st 7pm at the Hidden Valley Theater ($25)
Four world premieres of chamber music works written by the emerging composers Mieke Doezema, Sophie Fay, Alexa Letourneau, and Jonathan Wu paired with Beethoven’s String Trio in C minor, Op.9 No.3.
Dvořák | Torrent of Creativity
Saturday July 2nd 2pm at the Hidden Valley Theater ($25)
World premieres of chamber music works written by emerging composers Diego Berrospi Gutiérrez, Cixian Lu, James Pecore, and Kian Ravaei are paired with Dvořák’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 87. Reception to follow.
Discovery Series
Is New Music Scary? | The Passion and Power of Composers Today
Wednesday June 29th 7pm-8:30pm at the Hidden Valley Theater ($20)
Performance Today host Fred Child moderates a conversation with composition faculty, Wang Jie and Nick DiBerardino, as they bare all about what is going on in the minds of the composers today. The brave and important movement in the new music world is moving out of the ivory tower. Yes, tonality is back. Folk is in. Downtown is up, and melodies are hip again.
The Stories and Experiences that Turned into Music
Thursday June 30th 7pm-8:30pm at the Hidden Valley Theater ($20)
Performance Today host Fred Child leads a conversation with composition faculty and the emerging composers about the intriguing stories and life experiences that have become the music that they write, including faculty member Wang Jie’s pioneering opera “It Rained on Shakopee,” based on her mentoring experience in the Minnesota state prison.
Open Rehearsals
First Encounter
Sunday June 26th 2pm-6pm at the Hidden Valley Theater ($15)
Emerging composers hear their notes on paper transformed into what usually happens behind the scenes among concert musicians when they encounter a brand new work. Violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, violist David Samuel, cellist Chia-Ling Chien, and pianist Drew Petersen engage in the problem-solving process that creates a successful performance.
Young Beethoven and Dvořák’s Torrent of Creativity
Monday June 27th 2pm-6pm at the Hidden Valley Theater ($15)
Composition faculty – Wang Jie and Nick DiBerardino – and emerging composers work on updating their final drafts in 1-on-1 lessons, while performing faculty, Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, violist David Samuel, cellist Chia-Ling Chien, and pianist Drew Petersen begin to rehearse Beethoven’s String Trio in C minor, Op. 9 No. 3 and Dvořák’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 87, which inspired and will be paired with the new compositions in the final concerts.
Free Public Classes
Emerging Composers Lab
Monday June 27th 10am-12:30pm at the Hidden Valley Theater
Guided by the composition faculty, Wang Jie and Nick DiBerardino, emerging composers gather with the performing faculty, violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, violist David Samuel, cellist Chia-Ling Chien, and pianist Drew Petersen, to experiment, play around with, and exchange ideas to improve their pieces for more successful performance.
Engage Beyond the Music with Performance Today host Fred Child
Wednesday June 29th 2pm-3:30pm at the Hidden Valley Theater
A very special guest to Emerging Composers Intensive, Performance Today host Fred Child, takes our emerging composers through an invaluable professional workshop about the art of engaging the public beyond the music through written words, speaking, and media presence.
Cindy’s Charm School of Community Building
Thursday June 30th 2pm-3:30pm at the Hidden Valley Theater
Most musicians know why they want to make music, but they rarely consider why the community should choose them to perform or write music. Making personal connections is a key professional skill. Violinist and director of ECI, Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, will begin to coach emerging composers on this skill so that they can become vital contributors to a thriving classical music community.
Latest Updates
Latest Updates
From the Program Blog
Class Recap: Repertoire StudiesOur second group class was Repertoire Studies. Our composition faculty Nick DiBerardino who lead the class called it the “geek-out session.” ... (read more)"
Composer Spotlight
Where We're From
Who's Coming
- Emerging composers x 8
- Composition faculty x 2
- Performing faculty x 4
Works in the Oven
- Trio for violin, viola, and cello x 1
- Duo for violin and cello x 1
- Trio for violin, viola, and piano x 2
- Duo for viola and cello x 2
- Duo for violin and piano x 2
Where We're From
Program director Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu is from Taipei, Taiwan and lives in Corral de Tierra, CA.
Composition faculty member Wang Jie is from Shanghai, China and lives in New York City.
Composition faculty member Nick DiBerardino lives in Philadelphia, PA.
Performance faculty member Chia-Ling-Chien is from Taipei, Taiwan and lives in San Diego, CA.
Performance faculty member David Samuel is from Guelph, Ontario and lives in San Francisco.
Performance faculty member Drew Petersen is from New Jersey.
Emerging composer James Pecore is from Portland, OR and lives in New York City.
Emerging composer Diego Berrospi is from Lima, Peru.
Emerging composer Sophie Fay is from Washington State.
Emerging composer Jonathan Wu is from Shanghai, China and lives in Minnesota.
Emerging composer Mieke Doezema is from New Mexico and lives in Washington.
Emerging composer Kian Ravaei is from Los Angeles.
Emerging composer Alexa Letourneau is from Ohio and lives in New York City.
Emerging composer Cixian Lu is from Suzhou, China and lives in Minnesota.
Mission
Mission
The Emerging Composers Intensive (ECI) at Hidden Valley is an important extension to the conservatory education that aims to complete a young devoted composer’s skill set on the path to a professional career. ECI’s environment and teaching focus on the crucial connection between individual creativity and effective collaboration by having young composers work closely with both composition and performing faculty throughout their writing process to strengthen the necessary foundations of instrumental understanding, notation, and communication skills. The program builds a basis for young composers to form a lifetime of successful synergistic collaborations through writing, interaction, and relationships.