FREE and open to the public! Our 17th year of this annual event pays tribute to living composers. Award-winning pianist Artina McCain returns this season to curate the program.
RSVP does not guarantee entry. Registration is not required but does help us estimate audience size.
The Living Composer
I Wouldn’t Normally Say | Errollyn Wallen (b. 1958)
Mariposa | Valerie Coleman (b. 1970)
Be Still and Know | Carlos Simon (b. 1986)
Wish | Valerie Coleman
Jazz Triptych: Boogie Woogie | David Wilborn (b. 1961)
INTERMISSION
The Way it Was | Marcus Wilcher (b. 1985)
9-bit Blues | Marcus Wilcher
Wanderer’s Resolve | Marcus Wilcher
Destination, Unknown | Marcus Wilcher
Ebonee Thomas, flute
Martin McCain, bass trombone
Artina McCain, piano
THE BLACKLIST
Marcus Wilcher, saxophone
Altin Sencalar, trombone
Brian Pardo, guitar
Chris Jones, bass
Terrance McDaniel, drums
Artina McCain, piano & curator
Pianist Artina McCain enjoys a career as a pedagogue, solo, and chamber musician nationally and internationally. Most recently, she has appeared with Oregon East Symphony, Memphis Symphony, and the Austin Civic Orchestra. Television appearance include features on CSPAN and a featured leader in the PBS documentary series “Roadtrip Nation: Degree of Impact.” Recent honors include an Outstanding Collegiate Teaching Awards, American Prize Winner, Austin Critics Table Award, and Global Music Award.
She graduated from Southern Methodist University, Cleveland Institute of Music and University of Texas at Austin. Currently, she is Coordinator of Piano Studies at University of Memphis.
Ebonee Thomas, flute
Flutist Ebonee Thomas is originally from Plano, TX and holds degrees from Southern Methodist University and the New England Conservatory of Music. She was Principal Flute of the Knoxville Symphony for 3 seasons, Principal Flute of the Florida Grand Opera, and Second Flute with the Houston Symphony. Ebonee completed a fellowship with the prestigious New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson-Thomas, where she performed the North American premiere of Christian Lindberg’s flute concerto The World of Montuagretta. She has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other orchestras nationwide, most recently including the Dallas and Fort Worth symphonies. Ebonee has a passion for educating and teaches a full studio of private students.
Marcus Wilcher, saxophone
Marcus Wilcher is a California based musician and educator. He has received multiple accolades for his work including an ASCAP Young Composer Award and commissions from the New York Youth Symphony Organization and Mt. San Antonio College. A graduate of the doctoral jazz studies program at the University of Texas-Austin, Wilcher holds academic positions at two California colleges and maintains an active performance profile throughout Southern California. The Blacklist is a project that exists through collaboration with his long-time friend and percussionist Terrance McDaniel.
Martin McCain, bass trombone
Bass trombonist and Global Music Award Gold Medal winner Martin McCain’s career as a musician spans an impressive scope of genres. A third-generation musician, he maintains a versatile performance schedule as a soloist, chamber, orchestral and jazz/commercial musician. According to the International Trombone Association Journal, his playing has been described as “solid and masterful.” McCain is in high demand as a performer and clinician throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia.
Martin is Associate Professor of Trombone at Texas State University, where he directs the Trombone Choir and Jazz Trombone Ensembles. Under his leadership, the Trombone Choir and Jazz Trombone Ensembles have been invited to perform at the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, Big 12 Trombone Conference and Texas Music Educators Association Convention and have released two commercial recordings. He is also the founder/director of the Texas State Trombone Symposium. In addition to his duties at Texas State, Martin is on the faculty for the Austin Chamber Music Workshop, Interharmony International Music Festival, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and the SliderAsia Music Festival.