Guest Artist Recital: Khemia Ensemble

Stillness/MOVEMENT explores the extremes of how we simultaneously navigate the vibrant groove of life, the hollow serenity of quietude, and everything in between. The program features a mix of energetic and lyrical works of music by living composers, including newly commissioned field recording interludes by Kevin Good to create a seamless concert experience.

Composers on the Program: Pascal Le Boeuf, Lawton Hall, Juhi Bansal, Eve Beglarian, Bobby Ge, Jennifer Higdon, Andy Akiho

ABOUT THE KHEMIA ENSEMBLE

/ ’khémia / n.

1. derived from the Ancient Greek word χημεία (chemistry)

2. a contemporary chamber music ensemble based in the United States

Hailed by the Columbia Daily Tribune as adding a “fresh dimension” to the concert experience, Khemia Ensemble embraces broad perspectives in contemporary classical chamber music. With its dynamic instrumentation (soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, two percussion), Khemia’s unique sound world encompasses the presentation of new classical music with a mix of acoustic chamber works, multimedia, and multi-genre influences.

Khemia has been featured in venues and festivals including National Sawdust (Brooklyn, NY), the Mizzou International Composers Festival (Columbia, MO), Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, AR), Strange Beautiful Music (Detroit, MI), New Music Gathering (Bowling Green, OH), Latin IS America (East Lansing, MI), the Missouri Summer Composition Institute, and the Biennial New Music Festival (Córdoba, Argentina). Passionate artist educators, Khemia has held residencies at more than a dozen universities in North and South America. The ensemble's eight members also hold faculty positions at seven academic institutions across the U.S. including University of Georgia, Florida State University, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Utah State University, and Utah Valley University.

Committed to expanding the chamber music repertoire, Khemia has commissioned and premiered over 100 mixed-instrumentation works by professional, collegiate, and high school composers. Current collaborators include Anuj Bhutani, Fernanda Aoki Navarro, and Aurés Mussong. Khemia’s sophomore album, Intersections (Ravello Records. 2022), features all Khemia-commissioned works by Nicolas Lell Benavides, David Biedenbender, Stefan Freund, Phillip Sink and Nina Shekhar.

Khemia Ensemble is Amy Petrongelli (soprano), Mary Matthews (flute), Thiago Ancelmo (clarinet), Er-Gene Kahng (violin), Eli Lara (cello), Annie Jeng (piano), Shane Jones (percussion), & Chelsea Tinsler Jones (percussion).

Note: Khemia’s name is pronounced CHEM-ee-uh, like the beginning of the word chemistry.