Performers

Renowned Conductor Timothy Weiss and the Oberlin Contemporary Ensemble, one of the premiere ensembles for new music in the United States, have graciously agreed to consider performing works selected for the SEAMUS 2009 National Conference.  Performing music of all styles and genres, the repertoire of the group is as broad as the entirety of contemporary music.  Besides premieres of student, faculty, and alumni composers, the group has given first performances of new works by prominent composers including James Dillon’s The Soadie Waste and upcoming works by Olga Neuwirth and Rebecca Saunders.  Recent reviews have praised the ensemble’s work saying, “their level of preparation eclipses the highest conservatory standard and most professional contemporary music ensembles.  The works…created new dimensions of sound while always preserving emotional realities.”  The ensemble has spawned several nationally recognized performers, particularly the rising young ensembles eighth blackbird and ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble) and has performed with such famous exponents of modern music as Steven Schick and Ursula Oppens.