Soundbox Ventures will launch the Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program (SCFP). The SCFP hosts 2 internationally-acclaimed composers in residence, 6 composer fellows selected from an international applicant pool, and 9 classical musicians.

This concert is the soft-opening to ensembleNewSRQ’s 8th season, beginning with a pre-concert lecture-salon curated by Soundbox

Season 8 opens with an ethereal glimpse into the world beyond, with haunting works for string quartet and piano from some of the brightest new voices. String quartets from Nia Imani Franklin and Julia Adolphe bookend a captivating trio for violins and piano from Chris Rogerson. Philippe Manoury’s monumental Tensio for string quartet and live electronics transports you to a different world.

In a program celebrating the birth centennial of the incomparable György Ligeti, enSRQ welcomes back pianist Han Chen to perform the composer's Études and iconic Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano. Also featured are mixed instrumentation pieces inspired by Ligeti’s continuing legacy: Wax and Wire from Viet Cuong, and Slipstream from Stacy Garrop.

enSRQ premieres Scott Lee’s Karst, written for Artistic Directors Samantha Bennett and George Nickson, the first of this season’s two commissions. Devoted to the joyous interplay of dynamic contrasts, ‘Night and Day’ includes string, harp and percussion pieces from Molly Herron, Sebastian Currier, Einojuhaari Rautavaara, and Sam Adams.

Raven Chacon’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning Voiceless Mass anchors this program of powerful works for mixed instrumentation. Our second World Premiere and enSRQ Commission from Kyle Rivera, written for our enSRQ Artists, follows works by Ania Vu, Shawn Okpebholo and Sarah Kirkland Snider.

This ambitious four concert festival explores musical thought and inspirations from the City of Light. Conor Hanick, Lucy Fitz Gibbon, George Nickson and Samantha Bennett all take solo turns, conducted by Maurice Cohn and supported by a cast of 19 new music all stars.