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Seasons of Emotion - Fall Graduate Composers' Concert

UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

Tuesday November 21, 2023

8:00 p.m.

Schoenberg Hall

Performers

Joaquin Lichtle

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Joaquin Lichtle is a Mexican composer and conductor with a Magna Cum Laude degree from Berklee College of Music. While at Bleeding Fingers Music, a composer collective led by Hans Zimmer and Russell Emmanuel, Joaquin participated in the Around The World In 80 Days series (BBC). The project received a nomination for the Music+Sound Awards 2022 for which Christian Lundberg, Joaquin’s former mentor, gave him the privilege of being included as a finalist along with Zimmer, Emmanuel and himself. Being a part of Forbes Mexico’s list of the 100 Most Creative Mexicans In the World, Joaquin has given masterclasses in top institutions in Latin America. He has received additional international recognition from institutions such as the IBLA Grand Prize, Marker and Pioneer International Competition and the New York Latino Film Festival. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Composition at UCLA on a fellowship, during which he will be studying with world-renowned faculty members such as Richard Danielpour, Ian Krouse, Kay Rhie, Peter Golub, and many others.

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Sergey Nesterov

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Sergey Nesterov is a composer of concert and film music, orchestrator, and songwriter. Born in Moscow in 1997, he began studying composition from a young age with professor Tatiana Chudova at the Moscow Conservatory. He later went on to study with professors Valery Kikta and Alexander Tchaikovsky. In 2020, he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory with honors. In 2022 he was accepted into UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to continue his education with professors Richard Danielpour and Ian Krouse. Among Sergey’s works are orchestral pieces, chamber music, choral, and electroacoustic music, as well as music for video games, live-action and animated films. Sergey eyes dramatic and melodic development in his music, choosing flavorful harmonies to accompany intricately crafted themes. His original pieces and orchestrations have been performed in the United States, in various countries across Europe and Asia, and films featuring his music have been shown at international festivals.

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SiHyun Uhm

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SiHyun Uhm is an accomplished composer, pianist, and multimedia producer based in Los Angeles and South Korea. She has received commissions from prestigious institutions such as the US AirForce Academy Band, Yamaha, Rice University, Columbia Digital Audio Festival, and more. SiHyun has been recognized as a Composer Fellow by the American Composers Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Composer Lab, and has received prizes and awards from the President’s Own Marine Band and the Art Council of Korea.

 

Her versatility extends across genres like classical, electronic, pop, rock, and film/game music. SiHyun’s talent has been acknowledged with a 3rd prize in the Shanghai International Digital Music Festival. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Eastman School of Music, holds a Master’s degree in composition from The Juilliard School, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in composition at UCLA. Additionally, she holds a diploma from the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Massachusetts.

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Madeline Barrett

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Madeline Barrett is a Los Angeles-based composer of concert music known to evoke imagery of nature and foster human connection. Raised in Phoenix, AZ, she draws inspiration from the world around her, whether it be the oceans of the North American coast, the deserts of Arizona, or the softly bustling streets of Boston.

 

In addition to many US performances, Madeline’s works have been performed in Italy and Austria, by esteemed groups such as the Orchestra Senzaspine, Salastina, Carpe Diem String Quartet, Quatuor Diotima, and PHACE ensemble, as well as soloists such as Stefano Greco, Sophia Bacelar, Lisa Pegher, and Michelle Rice. She is a recent winner of the 7th Annual Boston New Music Initiative Young Composer Competition for her work The Flowers That Close at Night.

 

Madeline has a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Chapman University and a Master of Arts from UCLA. She is currently pursuing a PhD in composition, continuing her studies at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music in the studio of Richard Danielpour.

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John Hollywood

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John Hollywood is a second year MA student in Music Composition. He grew up performing music, but after college he worked as a mechanical engineer until 2020. He has studied composition with Kay Rhie, David Lefkowitz, and Nicholas Vasallo. In his spare time, he enjoys reading.

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Charles Burns

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Charles Burns has established a diverse and respected body of work. His compositions, spanning orchestral and chamber ensembles, choirs, his own big band, and explorations of electronic, pop, soul, and jazz music, reflect a broad musical spectrum.

Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, his career began as a professional saxophonist, sharing stages with notable artists such as Plas Johnson, Cecil Taylor, Barbara Morrison, and Jeff Goldblum. He has since transitioned to academia, teaching music theory at the California Institute of the Arts and pursuing a PhD in Composition at UCLA.

In his music, Charles delves into the liminal spaces of the world around us. His work is a testament to his dedication to probing the myriad dimensions of human experience, using composition as a medium to interpret and understand the nuanced and sometimes paradoxical nature of being. “Moss and Moth and Petrichor” explores themes of breath, loss, transfiguration, and healing.

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Austin Ali

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Hailing from Texas, Austin Ali is a composer, trumpeter, and arranger based in Los Angeles, California. An insatiably curious person, he strives to inspire wonder through his music. From complex-meter jazz to spacey orchestral scores, he seeks to compose infectiously fun and unforgettable music.

 

As a trumpeter, Austin was named “Promising Artist of the 21st Century” on tour with Big Wy’s Brass Band, performing for the U.S. Ambassador and President of Costa Rica in 2017 and 2019. He has performed and taught masterclasses in multiple international jazz festivals, collaborated with artists such as Wayne Bergeron, Joe Lovano, Stefano Greco, Christopher Bill, and opened for Stevie Wonder at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX.

 

Most recently, Austin traveled to Tampa, FL, Columbus, IN, and Siena, Italy for the premieres of his latest three orchestral works Defiant Overture, The Beginner’s Guide to Space Travel, and Atmospheres by the Tampa Bay Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and Orchestra Senzaspine in 2023. Austin is looking forward to the premiere of his Harp Concerto by the Los Angeles Inception Orchestra in February 2024.

 

Austin holds his B.A. and B.M. from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.A. from University of California, Los Angeles.

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Robby Good

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Robby Good is a current master’s student at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music for composition in visual media. He graduated from UCLA’s undergraduate music program in 2022 with a double degree in composition and percussion performance, with a minor in film. During high school, Robby was accepted into the Nancy and Barry Sanders Los Angeles Philharmonic Composer Fellowship Program, where he studied under Andrew Norman and Sarah Gibson. Robby’s concert works have been premiered by ensembles such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the International Contemporary Ensemble, the National Children’s Chorus, the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, and the CSUN Wind Ensemble. Robby has scored over 30 films and animations from students at UCLA, CalArts, Chapman University, Pratt Institute, Sarah Lawrence College, and more. He has also provided the scores to a number of video games developed within game jams, and is currently working on the music for the steadily-releasing “Project: Eden’s Garden.” Robby is currently working for composer Charles Fox, and is currently music directing the production of “Dis-topia,” an original musical with music and orchestrations by him, which will premiere in February 2024.

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Matt Smith

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Matt Smith, born in San Diego in 1987, is a composer and musician now based in Los Angeles. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Matt’s compositions enjoy performances globally, premiering in prestigious venues from Severance Hall in Ohio to the Academia Chigiana in Italy. Beyond composing, he is an experienced educator with over a decade of experience teaching music theory and history to students of all ages.

 

From 2014 to 2022, Matt immersed himself in music production and arrangement in Los Angeles, working with a wide variety of artists. He founded the electro-chamber ensemble Iridas, showcasing a diverse repertoire on a successful 20-city tour of China.

 

Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, Matt studies under acclaimed composer Richard Danielpour.

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Morgan Kelly Moss

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Morgan Kelly Moss (M.A. UCLA in-progress, B.M. Magna Cum Laude Temple University) is a composer, teacher, and pianist from Philadelphia, PA, currently based in Los Angeles. Morgan’s music has a sound world that is described as neo-American with inspiration from nature, and always spirited with a twinge of optimism. In 2023, her “Dreams of Holy Places” was selected by pianist and maestro Jeffery Jacobs to be recorded on an internationally distributed album of new works. Additionally, her work for solo trumpet and piano, “To the Ones who Know my Heart,” was selected for performance from 90 international submissions by the International Trumpet Guild. She has also been accorded “Emerging Composer” by Tribeca New Music Competition. Morgan has worked with ensembles across the country such as the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, the Argus Quartet, the Chester County Band, Temple University concert choir, concert band, and composers’ orchestra. Moss is very active in scoring music for film, scoring over 30 short films to date, and in 2022 composed her first feature film score which was released in theaters in July, 2022. She currently works in Los Angeles at Bear McCreary’s composing studio, Sparks and Shadows. She is very proud to be a teaching fellow at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the founder of Everywhere Music Company, a TA at UCLA for Musicianship and Music Theory, as well as a teacher of piano, composition, theory, and voice at the Music Studio of Patricia Keith. Morgan plans to graduate from UCLA in 2024, and continue to grow her career as a composer and teacher.

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Repertoire

Joaquin Lichtle (b. 1994)

Peregrinus

I. Martii
II. Essentia
III. Aurora Missio

 

Xenia Deviatkina-Loh, violin
Mona Tian, violin
Ben Bartelt, viola
Jeffrey Ho, cello

 

 

Sergey Nesterov (b. 1997)

Tolling of the Bell

Piano Waves

 

SiHyun Uhm, piano

 

 

SiHyun Uhm (b. 1999)

Seasons of Emotion

1. Whirlwind
2. Turmoil
3. Vibrance
4. Reminiscence

 

SiHyun Uhm, piano

 

 

Madeline Barrett (b. 1998)

Redwoods

1. A bird flies through the sunbeams
2. Starlight through the canopy opening
3. Their branches reach to the heavens

 

Vincent Jurado, horn
Sydney Wang, piano

 

 

 

INTERMISSION

 

 

Charles Burns (b. 1978)

Moss and Moth and Petrichor

 

John Robert Santiago, flute
Harrison Garff, clarinet
Daniela Santana, bassoon
Austin Ho, piano
Matheo Irazabal, violin
Mingye Wang, violin
Ian Lee, viola
Minnie Seo, cello
Isabel Dobrev, bass
Jakub Rompczyk, conductor

 

 

Austin Ali (b. 1997)

Boss Battle Sonata

 

Darren Liou, clarinet
Austin Ho, piano

 

 

Robby Good (b. 2000)

Stimulus

II. Concentrate
IV. Impulse

 

Emma Breen, trumpet 1
Austin Ali, trumpet 2
Vincent Jurado, horn
Nathan Culcasi, trombone
Samuel Adam, tuba

 

 

Matt Smith (b. 1987)

Consolations

 

Xenia Deviatkina-Loh, violin
Mona Tian, violin
Ben Bartelt, viola
Jeffery Ho, cello
Phyllis Pan, piano

 

 

Morgan Kelly Moss (b. 2000)

FAST

 

Carlos Duran, electric guitar
Mark DeFalco, piano
Michelle Sheehy, violin
Brian Cheng, violin
Damon Zavala, viola
Kaya Ralls, cello
Skyler Lee, double bass

Donor Acknowledgement

This event is made possible by the David and Irmgard Dobrow Fund. Classical music was a passion of the Dobrows, who established a generous endowment at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to make programs like this possible. We are proud to celebrate this program as part of the 2023 – 24 Dobrow Series

Program Notes

In composing Peregrinus, I sought to capture the essence of a timeless journey – the peregrination of the soul. The title, derived from the Latin word “peregrinus,” meaning ‘pilgrim’ or ‘traveler,’ alludes to the spiritual odyssey that humankind has embarked upon for millennia. I was inspired from pilgrimages such as the Virgen de Guadalupe in Mexico City, Buddhist’s Kora around sacred sites, and Adam’s Peak, each of which embraces a diverse range of beliefs. This influenced my choice of using Latin for the piece’s title and movement names, echoing the Romans’ adoption of various faiths. Peregrinus is a musical exploration of the shared human experience, and I hope it resonates with your own wanderings of the heart and soul.

 


 

Seasons of Emotion is a piano solo piece comprising four distinct movements, each delving into the intricate tapestry of human feelings.

“Whirlwind” – This movement portrays the intensity and dynamism of human emotions, represented with lively and rhythmic figures and jazzy harmonies, reflecting the energetic and spirited nature of our feelings.

“Turmoil” – In “Turmoil,” the music delves into inner conflicts and uncertainties, echoing the complex emotional struggles that people often face, characterized by its agitating, up-and-down quality.

“Vibrance” – “Vibrance” offers a contrasting mood of positivity and vitality, celebrating the joyful and spirited aspects of the human spirit with a light and joyful, cheerful atmosphere.

“Reminiscence” – The final movement, “Reminiscence,” evokes nostalgia and reflection, guiding the listener through a tapestry of memories with a poignant and bittersweet quality that captures the essence of reminiscing. These movements collectively explore the ever-changing seasons of emotion that make up the human experience, inviting the listener to embark on a musical journey through the depth and diversity of our feelings.

 


 

Redwoods is a set of three short movements for French horn and piano inspired by the incredible Redwood forests of Northern California. When I approached writing a solo work for French horn, I immediately thought of the grandeur and majesty of the Redwood trees. Each movement depicts a different scene within the forest.

 


 

When engraving my scores or working on Post-Tonal Analysis homework, I enjoy listening to music. When not listening to classical or jazz, I gravitate toward the great repertoire of video game music. And if a deadline looms near, I choose the rich sub-genre of boss battle music.

Boss battle music in video games invokes a heightened sense of urgency, allowing the composer to incorporate fast tempos, syncopated rhythms, mixed-meter, disorienting harmonies, and extreme melodic range into the score. For example, “Battle with Ganon” by Koji Kondo from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past features the insane time signature of 23/16 (or 13/16+5/8)—I highly recommend giving that one a listen. Some personal favorite canonical composers include Koji Kondo (Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda), Junichi Masuda (Pokémon), Gō Ichinose (Pokémon), Hirokazu Ando (Super Smash Bros.), Mahito Yokota (Super Mario Galaxy), and several others.

Additionally, the boss battle sub-genre features many common musical tropes such as fifth-heavy power chords, quasi-Alberti bass writing, and arpeggiated ostinatos. In summary, the style is unendingly fun to listen to and to write.

When presented with the opportunity to compose a piece for virtuosic duo Darren Liou (clarinet) and Austin Ho (piano), I jumped on the chance to write my Boss Battle Sonata. The piece is a love letter to the video game repertoire, presented in full acoustic form featuring all the fun genre tropes and Liou and Ho’s impressive technical skill.

 


 

Stimulus is a piece for brass quintet comprised of movements representative of some symptoms that people living with attention and hyperactivity disorders may experience.

 


 

With influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Greta Van Fleet, FAST blurs the lines between genres and seeks to break the norms of their stereotypical styles. The quasi-minimalist music tells stories of water and its ever-changing properties. At the time of writing, thoughts of environmental change and activism completely enamored the composer. Water is the life source of all beings on this planet, so naturally the music pays homage to the surging, unabashed energy that this life-giving source owns– the same energy which also lives within each one of us.