Khemia Ensemble to Hold Masterclasses Sept. 27 and 28

Khemia Ensemble will be visiting the U of A Department of Music for a guest artist residency Sept. 27-28. Composed of soprano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, piano and two percussion, Khemia Ensemble is a mixed chamber group dedicated to promoting contemporary classical music. Khemia's violinist, Er-Gene Kahng, is a professor of violin and the graduate studies coordinator at the U of A.

Our other members are Amy Petrongelli, assistant professor of voice at Baylor University; Mary Matthews, assistant professor of flute at Tennessee Tech University; Thiago Ancelmo, instructor of clarinet at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Eli Lara, assistant professor of music at the University of Missouri; Annie Jeng, assistant professor of piano at the University of North Carolina Greensboro; Shane Jones, assistant professor of percussion at Utah Valley University; and Chelsea Tinsler Jones, instructor of music at Utah Valley University.

Hailed by the Columbia Daily Tribune as adding a "fresh dimension" to the concert experience, Khemia Ensemble is dedicated to promoting contemporary classical music by cultivating inclusive place-making, collaborative mentorships and authentic storytelling through immersive, multimedia performances.

Khemia has been featured in venues and festivals including National Sawdust, the Mizzou International Composers Festival (Columbia, Missouri), Strange Beautiful Music Festival (Detroit, Michigan), New Music Gathering, Latin IS America (East Lansing, Michigan) and the Biennial New Music Festival (Cordoba, Argentina). As passionate artist educators, Khemia has also held residencies at University of Michigan, Tufts University, Michigan State University, University of Missouri, University of Tennessee at Martin, the National University of Bogotá and the National University of Córdoba.

Khemia invites the university community to join us Monday, Sept. 27, for the following activities:

11 a.m. — Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall

Khemia Ensemble Masterclass: So You Want to Start a Chamber Ensemble

We'll be sharing our journey of forming a chamber ensemble as well as strategies we've learned along the way for goal setting, rehearsal planning, gig booking and creating our organizational culture.

7:30 p.m. — Faulkner Performing Arts Center

Khemia Ensemble presents Intersections featuring brand new commissions and premieres of works by Nicolas Lell Benavides, David Biedenbender and Nina Shekhar. Tickets are free but must be reserved online. 

The individuals of Khemia Ensemble will also be giving masterclasses to U of A Music's applied instrumental and vocal studies. (See the full schedule here.)