New Music New College hosted a thank-you party in College Hall May 9 to commemorate its 20th season of performances. Attendees filled the room for conversation and refreshments as they awaited remarks from Director Steve Miles.
As Miles stood front and center, he reflected on the community that continues to develop around New Music New College, thanking many donors and supporters from campus and beyond.
“The biggest achievement with New Music New College is the community who have supported it for 20 years,” said Miles. “We think of New Music New College as the series, but many collaborations and continued support allows it to be so much more.”
The 20th anniversary season continued to expand the exploration of music and the arts, bringing the college and the community together while welcoming exciting performers and composers, featuring a mix of old friends and new. George Lewis and Wet Ink made return trips while Sō Percussion and Ensemble Dal Niente visited for the first time. Eliza Ladd and Mark Dancigers also created brand new work with New College students.
Miles believes every time someone chooses to go to a concert and experience something totally new it requires deep thinking and changes the frame about what music and performance is.
“There is a community of people who are saying yes to new experiences and yes to the possibility of change, and that is vitally important,” says Miles. “I believe that every time anyone of us does that, we shift and become better able to respond to differences and things in our lives or in the world that are challenging.”
Guests celebrated the series as an ongoing conversation about the meaning and the future of music and the arts.
“We were thrilled to have such a great turnout of students, faculty and staff at New College, in addition to colleagues from partnering institutions and a large contingent of members of the community to celebrate the close of New Music New College’s 20th anniversary season,” said New Music New College Producer Ron Silver. “And, of course, we look forward to next season.”
New Music New College is well known for its presentation of cutting-edge music in imaginative ways. Each season presents five programs featuring today’s leading contemporary music specialists as well as regular performances by New College students and faculty. It functions as a vital part of the New College of Florida music program, with many projects originating in the classroom.
– Derek Devine is social media manager at New College of Florida.