Preparation Information
Please read the information provided for your session type carefully, paying careful attention to the materials (if any) you are asked to submit in advance. All presenters will need to confirm name and work title spelling, in addition to bio (600 characters max) by Tuesday March 8th. Submit info here.
New Music Workshops and Presentations
Thursday
2:00-2:25pm – Ayn Inserto and Ed Puddick
2:30-2:55pm – John Mills and Remy Le Boeuf
Friday
11:00-11:25am – Mats Holmquist and Migiwa “Miggy” Miyajima
1:30-2:45pm – José Bevia, Zach Bornheimer, Alex Cassanyes, Eri Chichibu, Yotam Ishay, Tom Larson, Simon Lasky, Ben Morris, Seulah Noh, Meg Okura, Zach Rich, Rin Seo, Greg Simon, Ross Strauser, Gary Wang, Andrew Wiele, and Kate Williams
Saturday
10:00-10:50am – Bevan Manson and Jerald Shynett
11:00am-12:20pm – Christopher Berner, Clint Bleil, Michael Echaniz, Philip Ryan Goss, Alexander Frank, Andrew Janak, Jerry Ko, Ryan Middagh, Derek Molacek, Yu Nishiyama, Damiano Pascarelli, Craig Peaslee, Jussi Reijonen, Eiko Suzuki, William Wood, Tracy Yang, and Dexter Zabriskie
1:30-1:55pm – Phillipe Côté and Steve Guerra
Each Session runs 1 hour and 20 minutes and will feature 6 different works. Therefore, presenters have about 12 minutes (no more!) devoted to their composition/arrangement. The format for this time is roughly as follows:
- Brief Composer Statement about the work (1-2 minutes in length) – This is your opportunity to provide those in attendance with the background information they might find intriguing or insightful (concepts, techniques used, etc.) prior to listening to your piece. As the time is brief, give some advance thought to how this can be expressed concisely. If you prefer to forego an initial statement and just let the piece “speak for itself” that’s perfectly fine (and will save a little extra time for discussion).
- Airing of the recording of the work with concurrent projection of the score (4-6 minutes!!). For many (if not most), adhering to this allotted time will require editing your audio down in some fashion. We know this is painful; but with careful thought given to what aspects of the piece you’d like the audience and/or master composers to focus on, you’ll preserve time for the discussion following. Important: When making internal cuts in the recording, please do the same with the PDF of the score so that we can attempt to keep these “in sync”.
- Discussion of the work (4-7 minutes) – For those in the Masterclass categories this will be led by the Guest Artists. For those in New Music Presentation this will be your opportunity to discuss your work further or invite questions and feedback from those in attendance. Either way – this time will go all too quickly!!
To ensure masterclass sessions don’t run over and no one is slighted in the time devoted to their work, a monitor will cut off discussion promptly at the 12-minute mark!
ALL composers selected to present works in these sessions, must submit the following to ISJAC prior to March 8th.
- An MP3 of the best recording of the selected piece edited just as you’d like it presented at the workshop (keeping in mind the 4 to 6 minute suggested length)
- PDF of the score as you want to see it presented. These will be projected on a screen for viewing by all those attending the session. As much as possible, please edit it to “sync” with all recording edits.
The Symposium staff will compile each session’s compositions into a single “file” so that there is no prolonged transition between presenters. We will NOT edit either the score or recording submitted but may have to truncate it, if it greatly exceeds 6 minutes.
Paper Presentations
Saturday
9:00-9:50am – José Bevia and Derick Cordoba
10:00-10:50am – Daniel Henderson and David Springfield
Paper presentations will take place in one of two rooms – each equipped with podium, projection and audio capabilities, and a white/chalk board. To ensure the least likelihood of compatibility or set-up issues, presenters are asked to use their own laptops. A room monitor will be there to assist with set-up.
Each presenter has 50 minutes to deliver their paper as well as to entertain questions from those in attendance. In keeping with the conversational tone of the conference, we’d suggest keeping the paper presentation to about 25 minutes so that there is plenty of time for follow-up.
You may want to give some thought to preparing hand-outs or uploading support materials to a website, so the audience may better view them and retain them after your presentation. We will likely follow up with you about posting your paper on the ISJAC website at some point as well.
Poster Preparation Suggestions
Friday
4:00-6:00pm – Jen Allen, Lauren Elizabeth Baba, Duccio Bertini, David Binkley, Sam Blakeslee, Annie Booth, Alexander Clements, Mike Conrad, Matt Erion, S’yo Fang, Sam Griffith, Stephen Harvey, Joseph Herbst, Sarah Jerrom, Tom Johnson, Darrell Katz, Bryan Kennard, Gabriella Martina, Roella Oloro, Allie O’Neill, John Paulson, Marcus Ratka, Tonatiuh Vazquez Vilchis, and Greg Weis
Poster session participants may begin to set up their poster boards as early as Noon on Friday (the session begins at 4:00). ISJAC will supply the Poster Board (4’H x 6’W of available display space), Name Plate, electrical outlets, and a slender table on which to place laptops, tablets, headset, handouts, business cards, CDs, etc. You must bring the necessary materials to mount your poster (typically tacks/pins) along with any electronic devices you feel will enhance your presentation.
If you have never presented your work at a poster session before, here are a few suggestions:
- Create a large title heading for the top of the board to quickly identify what your work is about (does not need to include your name as that will appear on the provided name plate).
- People will be able to come all the way up to view your poster but consider type size as some may want to peruse it from slightly further away.
- In addition to posting your score, paper, analysis, etc. consider enhancing the board’s appearance with items that might visually attract attention and also be of conversational interest: pictures, graphics, programs, design elements.
- Augment your poster with videos, recordings, slide shows, etc. that you bring on your personal electronic devices. If you’re presenting your own composition, a recording or, better yet, a video of a performance will greatly enhance the understanding of the work for most attendees. Similarly, if you are presenting a research paper or analysis, recordings of works cited, slide shows of prominent artists, etc. might invite more folks to view your work.
- Please be aware that listening at the poster session MUST be done via headsets or ear buds. No use of speakers (whether external or internal) will be allowed, as they would likely interfere with other presentations.
- Finally, remember that the real value and attraction of poster session, is the ability for you, the presenter, to engage in direct, one-on-one conversations with those who are interested in your work. Consider how you might create your poster to promote those conversations and drive interest.
SONIC Award, Owen Prize, Prize for Emerging Black Composers, and Fundamental Freedoms Commission Recipients
Saturday
3:00-4:00pm – Lauren Elizabeth Baba, Mike Conrad, S’yo Fang, Joseph Herbst, Daiki Nakajima, and Roella Oloro
Please confirm you intend to use John Mills Times 17 personnel to perform your work (or whether you intend to perform with your own group). Should any guest performers/soloists (other than those in Times 17) be involved, please list names as well as the instrument on which they perform . . . . including yourself! For small group works (or anything other than standard big band) clarify specific instrumentation needed. Unless you are supplying your own performance group, PDF copies of the score and parts should be submitted as soon as possible.
To accommodate all performances within the time allotted, the stage will be set in a traditional big band set up and NOT reset for the smaller ensembles (this includes drum set and large amps). These groups will simply occupy the rhythm section side of the stage with soloists out front. However, we welcome any stage plot info you might want to share with us in an effort to try and accommodate your performance needs as best as possible.
The SONIC Concert is slated for Saturday afternoon, May 14th, at 3:00 PM. Rehearsal & Sound check with John Mills Times 17 is currently being scheduled. It is assumed that you will conduct or otherwise lead the rehearsal of your piece unless you communicate otherwise to us.
Rehearsal time will likely be limited to about 20 minutes each, so please plan accordingly. John Mills Times 17 musicians will be given parts in advance.
Prior to the performance of your work, you will have the opportunity to briefly (about 3 minutes) share some thoughts with the audience about the piece, the concepts behind it, compositional techniques employed, etc. There will also be a quick photo op while you are presented with your award. After the concert, we will gather in a group for a few more official photos, so please don’t run off!!