Dear All,

Since my last post was about 2010 and all of the surprises it held (especially since, as I mentioned, I assumed it would be a ‘quiet’ year), I’ve decided to write a little about the major projects that I have cooking for 2011. Most of these are for the spring, as the summer and fall are only now beginning to take shape. Again, I never know what will actually happen, but in many ways, that’s a lot of the excitement of it all…stressful at times, but exciting overall.

Strangely enough, one of the major upcoming events in 2011 was signed on December 30th. This would be the reissue of my first two solo CDs–When Wind Comes to Sparse Bamboo (2003) and From a Far-off World (2006)–which were originally released on Capstone Records. The Capstone catalog, which is now facilitated by Parma Recordings and under the profound stewardship of Bob Lord, will release the CDs through the Naxos Online Library, as well as Amazon and iTunes, as part of their new ‘Capstone Collection’. I am very pleased that these recordings will have a new life, and perhaps a new audience. This will happen in the first part of 2011.

This past weekend ushered in another stage of a major multi-year project. Many years ago, I had the idea to create a multimedia monodramatic opera entitled Cassandra, based on the enigmatic character from Greek mythology (Iliad, Orestia, and others). After some failed attempts at finding grant funding, I put together a very strong artistic team (Jacquelyn Familant, soprano; Adam Blanshay, director; Kate Light, librettist; Sylviane Jacobsen, set designer; others) and we have decided to make this happen for 2013. This weekend, we filmed a scene from the opera (a recitative and aria, titled The Cup of Agony, which, by the way, we created, rehearsed, and staged starting two weeks ago) to use for both grant applications and other methods of fundraising and publicity. The film of this scene will go up on my youtube channel by week’s end.

Speaking of my youtube channel, I will be posting new live performance videos from my festival performances in Tajikistan and Poland very soon. Stay tuned!

Many of you know about my work promoting American women composers abroad, especially to women composition students in the former Soviet Union that have no proper role models. On March 10, I have the honor of presenting a solo concert for the Women’s Work 2011 series, featuring many of the composers whose works I have promoted, and many new ones, as well. This series has been undergoing a difficult time due to having their funding and support cut last-minute with no warning, and past any deadlines to apply for other funding. Below is a link with series director Beth Anderson-Harold talking about this year’s plight and concerts. The project is now fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, and any support or donation is considered a charitable donation.

Women’s Work 2011

I am truly delighted with my collaboration with sculptor Laura Evans. Laura and I have created a project entitled Corpus Apparatus. This work is a visual/sonic installation that will be presented as both a featured work in Laura’s show at the Boston Sculptors Gallery from March 15 to April 17, 2011, and as a featured work for the TransCultural Exchange 2011 Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts: The Interconnected World, April 7-10, 2011. My music is an acousmatic (electronic music, created in the studio and using as source material recordings of me created specifically for this) piece which will emanate from within the sculpture. My electronic score to Corpus Apparatus won the CAP award from the American Music Center this fall. This award is to fund the final production and presentation of the work.

2011 will also start off with a bang compositionally. The wonderful German pianist Suzanne Kessel has engaged me to write a new work for her that also utilizes her playing ‘percussion’ as well as piano. I have decided to use Tibetan singing bowls as the ‘percussion’ instrument. The new piece, with a working title of Breathe, will be premiered this year in Germany and other European locations.

I will also be collaborating as both composer and performer with the wonderful Boston-based choreographer Rebecca Rice in a performance to be held at New York City’s Merce Cunningham Studio. Details of this June 13 performance soon to follow.

Amidst all of the major projects, the numerous other smaller concerts scattered throughout the year, some intense recording sessions, and a very heavy teaching schedule, I am in fact planning on composing and recording a new CD that combines new compositions, improvisation, world music, and electronics. All I am saying at this point is that it will happen…you’ll have to wait for details…:)

As always, i am humbled and honored by your continued interest and support. I wish you all a wonderful, successful, and peaceful New Year.

Warmly,

Demetrius

"Cassandra", stage for filming, Jan 02, 2011

Colorfest (Festival of Light); improvisation/performance art collaboration with visual artists and dancers, includes gala performance later with the Society of Overtone People; The Place Club, St. Petersburg, Russia

ArtConcept Festival; includes a presentation of my Mythology and Modern Perception film/multimedia program, as well as new collaboration/installation with Russian visual artist Andrei Efi, entitled The Carefree Princess, and an improvisational performance with Nieva Dance; Pushkinskaya 10 Art Complex/GEZ21; St. Petersburg, Russia

Collaborative improvisation performance with the modern dance group Nieva Dance; SAD Cultural Center, St. Petersburg, Russia

Guest performance with the Society of Overtone People; The Stray Dog Cafe, St. Petersburg, Russia

Performance on the Gala Concert at the Festival of Strange Music with the Society of Overtone People; St. Petersburg, Russia

Performance at The Stray Dog with the Society of Overtone People; St. Petersburg, Russia

The Society of Overtone People; guest performer; The Stray Dog, St. Petersburg, Russia

Nieva Dance Group, improvisations with modern dance ensemble; School 21, St. Petersburg, Russia