The competition takes place on Saturday, February 22
The nation’s first chamber music competition to evaluate both artistic excellence and creative event design returns, now in a new single-concert format on Southern Exposure. Competing for a grand prize residency in 2020-21 at UofSC valued at $10,000, three finalist ensembles, selected in the fall from a pool of more than 50 applicants, will each perform 20-minute sets.
The 2020 finalist groups are: the Beo String Quartet; RighteousGIRLS, a flute and piano duo; and Founders, a quintet comprised of violin, cello, bass, trumpet and clarinet. Beo will be performing a program that traces the evolution of the string quartet, including a triple quartet written by the group’s violinist, Sean Neukom. RighteousGIRLS takes aim at UofSC graduate Andy Akiho’s 21 in an innovative arrangement that includes electronics and improvisation. Founders reimagines and responds to Olivier Messiaen’s 20th-century masterpiece, Quartet for the End of Time.
The competition takes place on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the UofSC School of Music Recital Hall (813 Assembly St.). The evening is free admission and includes a post-concert reception and award announcement. Arrive early for this popular series as seats fill to capacity.
BEO String Quartet: The father of the string quartet – Joseph Haydn – wrote his first string quartet in 1762. Since then, the composition and performance of a string quartet has been the mark of certain achievement for both composer and performer. Now in the 21st century, Beo String Quartet offers programs that strive to keep the traditions of such a medium alive while simultaneously forging new experiences. Today's program is a musical progression that realizes this endeavor. Program: Haydn Recycled (2019) 2. reverse and reveal, Projection1: Triple Quartet (2016) Movement 2, & Lead Culture (2018) from triggerLand, all by Sean Neukom.
RighteousGIRLS: “Rattle speakers and expectations with stop-time razzle, vocal (flute-talk) and electronic (phaser) effects" (NYC Jazz Record). On February 22, RighteousGIRLS will explore beyond the acoustic medium, expanding their sonic world with an electronic and improvised set re-imagining composer/steel-pannist Andy Akiho's "21," expanding on Akiho's musical language centered around rhythm, melody, and metric modulations. Originally scored for steel-pan, cello, and percussion, the program culminates in the original composition of “21” arranged by RighteousGIRLS. Program: “21” by Andy Akiho, 2008 (Composer: Andy Akiho, Arranger: RighteousGIRLS)
FOUNDERS: In 1940-41, Oliver Messiaen composed his monumental work, Quartet for the End of Time while in a Nazi prison camp in Görlitz, Germany. Taking inspiration from the Book of Revelation, Messiaen composed a work both about the “end of time” in his personal life and that of the world. On this evening’s program, our arrangement of the Quartet seeks to widen the lens of Messiaen’s musical language - a retelling of the apocalypse for this new generation, integrating Gregorian chant, Bulgarian folk song, jazz and indie rock in a contemporary yet reverent way. Program: Quartet for the End of Time, by Olivier Messiaen (arr. Russell/Ridenour): Crystal Liturgy, Dance of Fury, & Clutter of Rainbows, and Motion, Radiohead (arr. Ridenour).
Artist Exposure
This Southern Exposure concert features visual art by SC native Candace Thibeault in the UofSC Music Library, School of Music second floor, during the weeks surrounding the concert.