From his first orchestral work, The Last Days of Calvin and Hobbes, to his chamber piece, Twinkle Toes, the music of John Berners shows a fondness for the irreverent and a fascination with American styles from bebop to marching bands, and influences from the baroque era and the theater.

American composer John David Earnest (b. 1940) has composed extensively for orchestra, chamber ensembles, chorus, solo voice and opera.

Sponsored by John Jamison & Kathy Wildermuth

Montana native Korine Fujiwara is a founding Carpe Diem String Quartet member, a devoted and sought-after chamber musician and teacher, and a gifted composer and arranger.

One of the most unique and sought-after chamber ensembles on the concert stage today, the Carpe Diem String Quartet is a boundary-breaking ensemble that has earned widespread critical and audience acclaim for its innovative programming and electrifying performances. Carpe Diem defies easy classification with programming that includes classical, tango, folk, pop, rock, and jazz-inspired music.

Originally from Hamilton, New Zealand, Chris Gendall studied composition at Victoria University of Wellington before completing a doctoral degree at Cornell University.

Yotam Haber is a composer based in New York City. He is a 2005 Guggenheim fellow and a 2007 Rome Prize winner in Music Composition.

Composer Molly Herron “thinks deeply about motion, energy, and the physics of sound” (NPR). Whether writing for baroque strings, flowerpots, or newly designed instruments, her work achieves “a wonderful consideration of counterpoint and sound in time” (Seen and Heard International). 

Born in Iowa City, Iowa, Ching-chu Hu studied at Yale University, Freiburg Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany, The University of Iowa, and the University of Michigan, where he earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition.

Texu Kim’s works have been performed by Minnesota Orchestra, National Orchestra of Korea, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Modern, and many more.

Andre Myers (b. 1973) is an artist and instructor of piano, composition, and theory. He serves on the University of Redlands School of Music faculty, teaching composition, music theory, and electronic music.

Chicago area composer James Stephenson’s works have been performed by leading American orchestras and around the world, and have been hailed by critics as having “straightforward, unabashedly beautiful sounds” and “Stephenson deserves to be heard again and again!” (Boston Herald). His music incorporates a fresh and energizing sound scape that engages the audience while maintaining integrity and worthwhile challenges for the performing musicians. This rare combination has rewarded Stephenson with a host of ongoing commissions and projects.