Other Minds New Music Festival 14 March 5, 2009

Other Minds, a San Francisco-based classical music presenter, will present its 14th annual international New Music Festival at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco on March 5-7, 2009.

The Los Angeles Times has called the Other Minds Festival “the premier new music festival on the West Coast.” As San Francisco's only international contemporary music event, the Festival is one of the few in the United States that highlights the latest musical developments alongside more traditional new music. Over the last 15 years, Other Minds has featured over 150 composers and 447 guest performers from more than 35 countries. Previous artists include: Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Lou Harrison, Tan Dun, and the Kronos String Quartet.

Other Minds Festival 14 will feature nine international composers—Michael Harrison (USA), Dobromiła Jaskot (Poland), Ben Johnston (USA), Catherine Lamb (USA), Chico Mello (Brazil), John Schneider (USA), Linda Catlin Smith (Canada), Bent Sørensen (Denmark), and Chinary Ung (Cambodia) and performers—Cello Octet Amsterdam, Del Sol String Quartet, Trio Con Brio (Copenhagen, violin-cello-piano). Programming will include four world premiere performances including The Tavern by American legend Ben Johnston (b. 1926), the US premiere of a work by Estonian Arvo Pärt for eight cellos, a special presentation in memory of Mauricio Kagel (1931–2008), thrilling music by composers from Poland and Denmark, “de-composed” songs based on Brazilian classics, and three more world premieres including a new work commissioned by Other Minds, and Tone Clouds by La Monte Young protégé Michael Harrison, composed for just intonation piano and San Francisco’s Del Sol String Quartet.

Pre-concert discussions hosted by Other Minds Executive and Artistic Director Charles Amirkhanian at 7:00pm.

Single concert tickets: $25 student, $31 JCCSF members, $35 general. Festival Pass 3 days: $60 student, $74 JCCSF members, $79 general. $150 Premium seating includes admission to opening night reception with artists. Available online from www.otherminds.org or through the JCCSF Box Office 415-292-1233.

Official Website: www.otherminds.org