Thank you to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Prof. Kris Tjornehoj for making this a reality! Today, March 3rd, 2022 at 7.30 pm CST, world premiere of my composition "Elemental Spirit: Respect and Responsibility". It's an honor to be the first Indian composer of the Annual Composer Commissioned composer program, the longest running program of its kind in the US. Also on the program today: a new woodwind arrangement of 'Son of Pandu' by Shruthi Rajasekar and some more pieces composed by the two of us.
Here is the press release from the University: https://www.uwrf.edu/News/Internationalartistsmusic2020commissionedcomposersmusicpremiereMarch3.cfm
My ode to the five elements-- Wind, Fire, Water, Space and Earth-- was inspired by the Panchaboota Krithis by the great Carnatic composer Vainika Gayaka (veena player and vocalist) Shri Muthuswamy Dikshidar. Though the premiere has been delayed, I feel my Guru Vidushi Kalpakam Swaminathan's blessings are the reason that it's happening in her centenary year. This is a 15-minute composition written for concert band - it is exciting to hear a Carnatic composition interpreted beautifully by these instruments.
After performing in the Soorya Performing Arts Festival St. Louis, MO and now in Wisconsin, I look ahead to one of my most gratifying moments as a performer... performing for Children's Hospital, Minneapolis (March 8).
Praying for peace in the world,
Nirmala