Harmonikos April 2012 Concert April 28, 2012

For two years, Harmonikos has been promoting works of Bay Area young composers by holding concerts featuring their work. Harmonikos has presented concerts featuring young artists and professional talent alike, and recently premiered Patriot Day, a work by esteemed young composer Niko Umar-Durr which recounts his uncle's experience during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

For its latest concert, Harmonikos is featuring a screening of the newly released film "The First 70" (trailer: http://www.thefirst70.com/thefirst70.html), with live music performed by Harmonikos. This film, directed by Jarratt Moody, documents California's plan to close 70 of its state parks, has a score composed by Harmonikos founder Dmitri Gaskin.

Harmonikos was founded in 2009 by Dmitri Gaskin and Oliver Konkel, after Gaskin met his compositional idol Steve Reich. Reich made a lasting impression on Gaskin, ultimately leaving him with the message that being a composer is not just about writing good music, but also about making sure that it is heard. Gaskin thus began searching for a way to allow his music to be heard. Thus was born Harmonikos: a collaborative effort between several young Bay Area composers who compose and perform their own music. For its second birthday, Harmonikos has invited several young composers to compose new works for various ensembles. This concert will be an exciting look into the future of contemporary-classical music.

The concert will also feature distinguished composers Lauren Romano Bare, Thomas Feng, Oliver Konkel, Stephen Spies, Niko Umar-Durr, Jolene Won, and Niko Yamamoto.

Official Website: http://harmonikos.com/node/146