Present Music - ProfilesArchive

About Me

Internationally acclaimed and celebrating 26 year of new music, Present Music (PM) commissions, performs and records the music of living composers. It also nurtures the next generation of composers through its education program, the Creation Project. Founded by Kevin Stalheim, PM works closely with many of the worldâ€™s most exciting and significant composers, while also supporting the talents of emerging voices. It marked its 25th season with an unprecedented 11 world premieres, a New York tour, and special celebrations and is moving into its 26th season with concerts at six unique venues throughout Milwaukee! PM has toured extensively throughout the United States and has participated in several major international music festivals, including performances in Japan, China, and Turkey. Currently, Present Music can be heard on compact disc recordings that include composers Kamran Ince, Michael Torke, Daniel Lentz, Henry Brant, Jerome Kitzke, and Kimmo Hakola on the Argo, Albany, Aoede, Northeastern and Innova labels.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/6/2006
Band Website: presentmusic.org
Band Members: At its heart, Present Music is an ensemble of musicians. Six times a year, Artistic Director Kevin Stalheim develops a program to be performed in Milwaukee, and at times in Madison, by the Present Music ensemble, which ranges from a core group of seven musicians to an ensemble of twenty. The Ensemble expands and contracts to allow for a diversity of instrumental combinations and the requirements of each program. The artists that make up Present Music engage the audience in imaginative and provocative concert experiences that have been described as "crackling with wit and intelligence," "wildly varied," "fun," and "unpredictable."

Influences: Present Music is committed to the creation of new work and nurturing emerging composers, and has commissioned over 20 major new works in the past ten years. Composers who have worked in residence or have been commissioned by Present Music include John Adams, John Harbison, Michael Torke, Kamran Ince, Joan LaBarbara, Roberto Sierra, Bright Sheng, David Lang, Eleanor Hovda, Jerome Kitzke, Qu Xiaosong, Scott Lindroth, Lois V. Vierk, Daron Hagen, Mary Ellen Childs, Daniel Lentz, Jerome Kitzke, Juliet Palmer, Guy Klucevsek, and many others.
Record Label: Argo, innova, Albany, and Northeastern labels
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Present Music’s ZooMusic Review

Present Music goes wild at zoo Animal-themed pieces had sounds of both the exotic and the familiarBy TOM STRINIJournal Sentinel music criticPosted: June 6, 2008Present Music was at the Milwaukee Count...
Posted by Present Music on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:30:00 PST

Present Music Uncaged at the Zoo - JUNE 6 ONLY

Check out the Journal Sentinel preview of our upcoming concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo by Tom Strini:http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=756352...
Posted by Present Music on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:14:00 PST

Read the Journal Sentinel Review of the PM/Danceworks Collaboration

Pit stage hinders dancers Some pieces overcome it better than othersBy TOM STRINIJournal Sentinel music criticPosted: April 25, 2008The Humphrey Scottish Rite Masonic Center, where Danceworks and Pres...
Posted by Present Music on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:58:00 PST

HAVING AN AFFAIR!

Milwaukee’s contemporary frontrunners on the music and dance scene will rekindle their relationship in an evening sizzling with new works. The concert will feature a premiere by Dancew...
Posted by Present Music on Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:55:00 PST

This "Clever" retelling of Antigone continues All Weekend!

Check out Tom Strini's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review of Thursday's performance:Modern 'Antigone' puts words first Ensemble highlights disasters of pride, follyBy TOM STRINIJournal Sentinel music c...
Posted by Present Music on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 07:43:00 PST

Dont miss PMs retelling of Antigone!

Present Music & Milwaukee Dance Theatre perform ANTIGONEYou've never heard or seen Antigone quite like this. Present Music teams up with Milwaukee Dance Theatre for a provocative retelling of the...
Posted by Present Music on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:51:00 PST

Reviews of Art, Architecture & Music

Music and artworks mingle at museum By TOM STRINIJournal Sentinel music criticJan. 12, 2008When eye and ear compete for attention, the ear generally loses. Randall Woolf's "Women at an Exhibition," p...
Posted by Present Music on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:10:00 PST

Vital Source Preview

Open to interpretation Present Music composes for the Calatrava by Joe White "We'll all have walkie talkies, and I'll pretty much be like the quarterback," says Kevin Stalheim.Such a statement might...
Posted by Present Music on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 01:13:00 PST

Call For Participation!!!

..> JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION OF THE NEW MILWAUKEE What is the New Milwaukee? It's a creative place full of new architecture, urban development, creative people, art, fashion, and of course--ne...
Posted by Present Music on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:14:00 PST

Thanksgiving 2007 Reviews

Click Here to read Tom Strini's review of Present Music's Thanksgiving Concert ...
Posted by Present Music on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:46:00 PST