A 20-year tradition at Wichita State, this year's Festival of Contemporary Music promises an array of musical experiences -- many featuring student composers and performers. The festival runs today (Thursday, Sept. 11) through Friday, Sept. 12, and is organized into three concerts.

The first concert, which is free, is at 1:30 p.m. today in Wiedemann Hall. It features student performances: three pieces by student composers and one piece performed by a student performer.

Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn, assistant professor
of music theory, composition and technology at WSU and the festival’s director, said that for students the performances are one of the highlights of their time at Wichita State.

“You are creating something from your own ideas, your own imagination, your own sweat and tears and work,” Sternfeld-Dunn said. “The beauty of it is that you sort of put all this time into crafting this work of art, and then you have to let it go and let someone bring it to life.”

This year’s festival will be the debut of WSU’s NuShock Ensemble, a contemporary music ensemble composed of Wichita State faculty and professional musicians in the Wichita area. That group will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, also at Wiedemann Hall. The NuShock performance will highlight individual faculty members with solos and duets.

The festival brings in a guest composer or performer each year, and this year’s guest concert is pianist Holly Roadfeldt, who will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Wiedemann Hall.

“She is a stunning pianist,” Sternfeld-Dunn. “She plays with a lot of power and a lot of emotion. I feel like the people that come are going to be taken on a journey.”

As with all College of Fine Arts events, the Thursday and Friday evening concerts are free for WSU students at the box office with ID. Tickets are $7 for general public, $6 for seniors, faculty, military and staff, and $3 for children.

“If you’ve never experienced contemporary music, you’re in for a real treat,” Sternfeld-Dunn said. “Some of the music is going to be stunning and beautiful, and others will be harsh and dissonant. Others will just be dramatic. It’s a great experience.”