Program

Augusta Read Thomas: Shakespeare’s Jesters (2023)

Elijah Daniel Smith: Perihelion (2022) 

Elliott Lupp: minus (2020)

Kari Watson: Shelf Life (2023)

Pauline Oliveros: Thirteen Changes (1986)
     1. Standing naked in the moonlight - Music washing the body. 
     2. Atomic imagery-Rotating molecules-Instantaneous particles dancing-Vanishing. 
     3. Solar winds scorching the returning comet's tail. 
     4. Elephants mating in a secret grove. 
     5. Airborne carriers of transparent seedlings. 
     6. Songs of ancient mothers among awesome rocks. 
     7. A single egg motionless in the desert.
     8. Rollicking monkeys landing on Mars. 
     9. A singing bowl of steaming soup. 
     10. Tiny mites circling one hair in the coat of a polar bear. 
     11. A solitary worm in an empty coffin. 
     12. A sip of midnight well water.
     13. Directionless motion- Unquiet stillness - A moment alone with millions of people Calming the waters - The aura of a black bird.

Bio

Take your preconceived notions of ‘noise’ and toss them out the window. Equal parts “fiendishly good and fiendishly goofy” (Chicago Tribune), ~Nois is a Chicago-based saxophone quartet dedicated to connecting with diverse audiences through the creation of new work. Since its founding in 2016, “~Nois continues to legitimize the saxophone quartet as a premiere ensemble formation for classical music” (Brutal New Music) through commissioning repertoire that is thought-provoking, engaging, and honestly just really good, by some of today's most inspiring compositional voices. 

Hailed as “technically superb and musically brilliant” (Cleveland Classical) the ensemble has been awarded top prizes at numerous prestigious chamber music competitions including the M-Prize International Arts Competition, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and have presented over 130 performances spanning 24 states. With more than 100 world premieres to date, the members of ~Nois have had the privilege of working closely with some of the world’s leading voices in composition including Nico Muhly, Augusta Read Thomas, Shelley Washington, among others.

~Nois’ recorded output boasts a wide variety of genres and styles, including their debut album “Is This ~Nois”, which was heralded as “fresh and intense” (The Whole Note) The group’s highly anticipated sophomore album, “Kinds of ~Nois”, will be releasing in March of 2024 on the label Bright Shiny Things, in collaboration with the composer collective Kinds of Kings. 

~Nois is János Csontos (he/him), Julian Velasco (he/him), Jordan Lulloff (he/him), and Hunter Bockes (he/him). For more information, visit www.noissaxophone.com