UNCSA School of Music invites you to a day full of musical innovation. The Experimental Improvisation Summer Mini-Fest brings together composers and musicians from the worlds of traditional jazz, contemporary concert performance, fully improvised music, and the avant-garde together to share their expertise and techniques with the community. 

Doors open for check-in at 1 p.m. in Watson Hall, where you'll receive an event wristband, program and campus map. 

Program

“Exploring Free Improvisation” Workshop

• 2-2:45 p.m. at the UNCSA Film Scoring Stage.
• Composers Gregory Hoffman and Gwen Young provide and interactive workshop instructing the audience in musical improvisation techniques. Audience participation is encouraged, and no prior musical experience required!

Michael Kinchen “Trio Plus”

• 3-4 p.m. at the Gerald Freedman Theater in Performance Place.
• Saxophonist Michael Kinchen, bassist Charlton Provatas and drummer Kassem Williams bring to UNCSA’s Gerald Freedman Theater original trio (plus!) music that will twist and pull the ear of those expecting a traditional jazz approach.

"Explorations"

• 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Watson Hall.
• Join clarinetist José Eduardo Orea Dominguez and pianist Shauna Alexis Bierly and embark on a sonic adventure, witnessing the transformation of musical expression over time, from the intricacies of serialism to the cutting-edge technologies of virtual (VR) and extended (XR) reality experiences with spatialized audio in real-time.

Break for Dinner 

• 5:30-7 p.m.
• Dining Services will be available with several options at affordable prices. 

Sanders, Boyd, Page and Hall Quartet

• 7-8 p.m. at the Gerald Freedman Theater.
• Live explorations of electronic sound mediums from the latest contemporary project of guitarist Jay Sanders. Multi-reedist Will Boyd, bassist Zack Page, and drummer Alan Hall push the boundaries of contemporary sound and improvisation.