Role

:

Ensemble

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Stony Brook Contemporary Players is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1975 at Stony Brook University in New York. The ensemble was created to provide a platform for contemporary classical music and to showcase the talents of Stony Brook University's music faculty and students. The founding members of the ensemble were composer and conductor Daria Semegen, composer and pianist Gilbert Kalish, and composer and flutist Harvey Sollberger. These three musicians were instrumental in shaping the direction of the ensemble and establishing its reputation as a leading performer of contemporary classical music. Over the years, the ensemble has had many members, including faculty members and students from Stony Brook University's Department of Music. The ensemble has also collaborated with many guest artists and composers, including John Cage, Elliott Carter, and Steve Reich. One of the highlights of the ensemble's early years was its performance of John Cage's "Song Books" in 1976. This was a groundbreaking performance that featured a wide range of experimental music and performance art. The performance was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and it helped to establish the ensemble's reputation as a leading performer of contemporary classical music. In the years that followed, the ensemble continued to perform a wide range of contemporary classical music, including works by composers such as György Ligeti, Morton Feldman, and Karlheinz Stockhausen. The ensemble also began to commission new works from emerging composers, which helped to further establish its reputation as a leading performer of contemporary classical music. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was its 1985 performance of Morton Feldman's "For Philip Guston." This was a marathon performance that lasted over four hours and featured a single piece of music. The performance was a major success and helped to establish the ensemble's reputation as a leading performer of contemporary classical music. Over the years, the ensemble has received many awards and accolades for its performances and recordings. In 1991, the ensemble received a Grammy nomination for its recording of Elliott Carter's "Enchanted Preludes." The ensemble has also received numerous awards from organizations such as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the National Endowment for the Arts. Today, Stony Brook Contemporary Players continues to be a leading performer of contemporary classical music. The ensemble's current members include faculty members and students from Stony Brook University's Department of Music, as well as guest artists and composers. The ensemble continues to perform a wide range of contemporary classical music, including works by emerging composers and established masters of the genre.

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