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21st Century Composers YOU Should Know About

January 5, 2024, 8:00 pm

Nico Muhly in his composing studio, digital keyboard, sheet music, and large computer monitor on his desk, smiling, leaning on his right elbow; wearing black coat over grey-blue t-shirt.

Nico Muhly (Photo: Heidi Solander)

Sound Classical is often built around music that blends and merges styles. But who are these brilliant musicians and composers creating this music? Hosts Kristina Lynn and LaRob K. Rafael are always on the hunt for new music and composers to share, and on this week’s episode, they want to ask listeners: have you heard of composers like Alexis Ffrench and Nico Muhly? If not, here’s your chance to hear their music and more!

Playlist

I Villvind
Mette Henriette
Mette Henriette, tsx; Judith Hamann, vc; Johan Lindvall, p
ECM 2766

Motion
Nico Muhly
Aurora Orchestra/Nicholas Collon
Decca 478 2731

Golden
Alexis Ffrench
Alexis Ffrench, P; Studio Orchestra
Sony 19439966602

Colours
Alexis Ffrench
Alexis Ffrench, p; Studio Orch
Sony 19439966602

Folía
Lucía Caruso & Pedro Henrique da Silva
P.H. da Silva, L.Caruso; St. Martin’s Academy/ B O’Neil
Bright Shiny Things IMGC-0123

Home
Jeffrey Derus
Constellation Men’s Ensemble
Sono Luminus DSL-92266

String Quartet No. 5
“IV. Scherzo”
Chris Adams
Jade String Quartet
Rattle RAT-D138

Time Past, Time Future
Alvin Singleton
Awadagin Pratt, p; A Far Cry
New Amsterdam NWAM-177

Honeyed Words
Anne Meredith
Ligeti Quartet
Mercury KX 4847520

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Sounds Classical is made possible, in part by, Sylvia Furner and the members of the WFMT Fine Arts Circle.

Meet the Hosts

LaRob K. Rafael joined the WFMT announcing staff in 2020 as a fill-in host and became WFMT’s full-time weekend morning host and producer in Fall of 2021. A Bass-Baritone from the DMV area (Maryland), LaRob has been involved with music since childhood and is a graduate of DePaul University, where he studied Vocal Performance. He has since gone on to work with arts organizations including Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Caccina (a professional women’s ensemble), Black Opera Alliance, Black Administrators of Opera, and Sphinx Organization to name a few. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Hearing in Color and combines his experience and research to change the predominantly white, European, male classical canon.

Kristina Lynn is a producer and host at WFMT, presenting both Sounds Classical with LaRob K. Rafael, and Evening Music on Friday nights. She has hosted live performances and artist interviews with the Rush Hour Concerts and has done voiceover work for the WFMT Radio Network. With an easygoing approach, Kristina aims to welcome all types of listeners to classical music and explore the art form from a 21st-century perspective. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in Trumpet Performance from DePaul University. Before announcing at WFMT, she has previously worked in radio production at both WFMT and at WQXR in New York.

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

21st Century Composers YOU Should Know About

Playlist