Renowned Conductor in Residence With Columbia's New Music Ensemble

Campus Communications Staff / Apr 26, 2023

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Internationally renowned conductor, composer, and master arranger Cliff Colnot will be on campus conducting the Music Department’s New Music Ensemble in open rehearsals on April 26, May 1, and May 3.

The Music department welcomes renowned conductor, master composer and arranger, and educator Cliff Colnot to Columbia College Chicago. Colnot is in residence with the New Music Ensemble (NME) during open rehearsals to prepare the ensembles for performance of 14 new works that were composed and arranged by its members.

Colnot, who previously conducted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and who for more than twenty years was chief conductor of the Civic Orchestra (the unique training orchestra for the CSO) and the DePaul Orchestra, is one of the few musicians to have studied orchestral repertoire with Daniel Barenboim. He has served as assistant conductor for Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Workshops for young musicians from Israel, Egypt, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. Colnot has also worked extensively with the late Pierre Boulez and served as assistant conductor to Boulez at the Lucerne Festival Academy.

The open rehearsals at Columbia began Monday April 24 and three more will be held on Wednesday, April 26, Monday May 1, and Wednesday, May 3 from 3:30-4:50pm. The rehearsals are being held on campus at the Sherwood Recital Hall, which is located at 1312 S. Michigan Ave.

“This is an absolutely unique opportunity for all music students to witness the rehearsal process of a master conductor and educator who has distinguished himself in a career spanning many decades, crossing all styles, educating the best musicians, and tirelessly promoting new music by young composers and arrangers nationwide,” says Music Chair Sebastian Huydts. 

Colnot will be available to talk to student composers and arrangers following rehearsal.

The New Music Ensemble will perform all works in a public concert on May 10 at 7pm, Sherwood Recital Hall, 1312 S Michigan, Chicago. Admission Free.

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