FHSU University Communications
FHSU’s Department of Music and Theatre will present its seventh-annual FHSU New Music Festival Friday and Saturday, April 25-26. The Saturday concert will present an evening of the music of Dr. Chen Yi and will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center. Complimentary tickets will be available in the lobby 30 minutes before each concert or in advance at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Dr. Chen is a prolific composer who blends Chinese and Western traditions, transcending cultural and musical boundaries. She is an internationally sought-after composer whose works are performed worldwide.
As part of the New Music Festival, under the direction of Dr. Kristin Pisano, Dr. Chen will give a lecture entitled “My Compositions Inspired by Chinese Folk Music” on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Malloy Hall, room 115, on the FHSU campus. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The evening performance on Saturday will feature the world premiere of Chen Yi’s “Remember” for flute, clarinet, violin, and cello. This work was commissioned by the FHSU New Music Ensemble, an ensemble of FHSU music faculty who share a passion for the music of living composers.
The annual FHSU New Music Festival aims to engage, educate, and inform the community about new music.
“We are so excited that Chen Yi will serve as composer in residence for the 2025 festival, and we eagerly anticipate the premiere of ‘Remember,’” Pisano said.
Performers at this concert are Brian Buckstead, violin; Brent Williams, violin; Ben Cline, cello; Gustavo do Carmo, piano; Hilary Shepard, flute; Kristin Pisano, clarinet; Luke Helker, percussion; the FHSU Wind Ensemble, and the Hays High Chamber Singers.