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.

The UGA Contemporary Chamber Ensemble performed new compositions, including pieces from the 30x30x30 Project, a national call-for-scores hosted by SOLI Ensemble, for which UGA's CCE is a partner ensemble. 

ABOUT ZORAN DUKIĆ

Zoran Dukić was presented with a guitar at the early age of six. Today he is one of the most distinguished classical guitarists of our time. His concert performances, both as a soloist and with an orchestra, leave long-lasting impressions on audiences and critics alike. He has performed in the most prestigious concert halls worldwide, such as Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Carnegie Hall in New York, Concert Gebouw in Amsterdam, and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow.

In his “tour de force” competition years, he won an astonishing number of competitions. He is the only guitarist to have won both “Andrés Segovia” competitions in Granada and in Palma de Mallorca, as well as competitions dedicated to “F. Sor,” “M. Ponce,” “M. de Falla,” “F. Tárrega,” and many others. This, in addition to his unique expressiveness and poetry on the guitar, launched his worldwide career.

Being exceptionally enthusiastic and dedicated to teaching, his pedagogical activities are equally impressive. He is a professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in The Hague since 1997 and has one of the most successful classes in Europe. Being a very active chamber music performer, he is a founding member of the European Guitar Quartet, Croatian Guitar Quartet, and a duo with Aniello Desiderio.