We are delighted to announce that Rashaan Allwood will be New Music Concerts (NMC’s) Composer-in-Residence for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons.
To kick off his residency, Rashaan is composing a new work called Black Ice for nine instruments, which is set to premiere in February 2025 alongside Hans Abrahamsen’s 21st Century Masterpiece Schnee.
In upcoming seasons Rashaan will also be premiering a new piece for piano, three pianists, electronics and spoken word. Both works are commissioned with much appreciated support from the Ontario Arts Council.
“Rashaan is an immensely talented organist, pianist, and keyboard player, but he is also a remarkable composer—curious, exacting, and deeply knowledgeable about both 20th and 21st-century music. Rashaan has proposed three exceptional projects, including a response to Hans Abrahamsen's 'Schnee' titled 'Black Ice' for nine players, a fascinating solo piano piece involving three pianists performing inside and outside the piano, accompanied by spoken word and electronics, and a groundbreaking concerto for vintage synthesizers, keyboards, electronics, and large ensemble.”
– Brian Current, NMC Artistic Director
Please join us in welcoming this outstanding and gifted composer to the NMC family. We have no doubt that Rashaan Allwood’s work will create significant ripples in contemporary music circles across the country and beyond. Additional details about Rashaan are below, and more details about our upcoming 2024/2025 season will be announced soon.
Rashaan Allwood - BIOGRAPHY
Rashaan Rori Allwood is a versatile composer and researcher currently pursuing a PhD in composition at Western University. His diverse work spans from contemporary, to world and medieval music, reflecting his innovative approach to composition. Recently, Rashaan collaborated with the Bozzini Quartet for Bozzini Lab 2024 and received commissions from the American Guild of Organists, including the Marilyn Mason Award in 2022 and in 2023 the RCCO for their 2023 National Convention. His new film, Streams of Self-Consciousness, premiered as part of the Celebrations and Revelations 2023 concert series, a Black History Month initiative sponsored by TD to expose the public to new and inspiring Black art. This film is a part of his doctoral research and thesis, exploring the intersection of cultural impact and performance art. Rashaan is excited to be working with New Music Concerts Toronto on several new commissions and exciting projects. Engaged with a global audience through social media, Rashaan continues to push the boundaries of contemporary music and interdisciplinary exploration.
A Special Thanks
We’d like to give a very special thank you to our previous Composer-in-Residence, Juro Kim Feliz. Juro premiered three pieces with NMC from 2021 - 2023 including: Kinagisnán (2023 World Premiere) for Ensemble and Spoken Word, Kina-i-ngátan (2023 World Premiere) for Trumpet and Electronics, performed by Guy Few, and Kinalugarán for Eight Spatialized Flutes & Electronics (2022 World Premiere). Head to our Youtube channel to enjoy these works.
"These three pieces by Juro Kim Feliz are a remarkable contribution to the Canadian musical canon. They are exceptionally detailed, authentic, and resonate deeply with the times and I find his voice to be integral to the 21st-century Toronto contemporary music scene. We are immensely grateful for the support of the Ontario Arts Council, as well as the incredible musicians from the NMC community who have brought these works to life.
Juro Kim Feliz is truly an artist who captures what it feels like to be alive in this unique moment in history, and I strongly encourage everyone to follow and support his music as it continues to evolve."
– Brian Current, NMC Artistic Director
