MusiqaLab brings together young composers and Musiqa’s experienced teaching artists, professional composers, and musicians. Over the course of a semester, students learn a variety of composition techniques, try out ideas with trained musicians, and prepare for a public performance of their work presented by Musiqa’s professional team of musicians. This year’s MusiqaLab composers, Andres Flores and Cynthia Yax, hail from Sharpstown High School where they study under Director of Bands Sean Burke. MusiqaLab teacher Karl Blench has coached them as they developed original compositions for woodwind quartet. The resulting two world premieres will be performed by Amanda Galick (flute), Maiko Sasaki (clarinet), Alecia Lawyer (oboe), and Adam Trussell (bassoon) in conjunction with the CAMH Teen Council-curated exhibition Turn On, Tune In, Tap Out.
About Andres Flores
Andres Flores is a senior at Sharpstown High School who started his musician career during his freshman year, but has recently started composing his own music.
About Cynthia Yax
Cynthia Yax is a student at Sharpstown High School who began her music path in middle school. She plays the flute and she has recently started composing music.
About Musiqa
Winner of the 2013 and 2016 Chamber Music America/ASCAP Adventurous Programming Award, Musiqa is a non-profit organization dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music. Founded in 2002 and led by four composers, Musiqa aims to enrich and inspire the community through programs that integrate contemporary music with other art forms. Musiqa celebrates the creative arts through interdisciplinary concerts that highlight contemporary music and its connections to literature, film, dance, visual art, and more. With its innovative collaborations and educational programming, Musiqa strives to make their repertoire accessible and vital to audiences of all ages and musical backgrounds.