“Nico Muhly is a musical omnivore with an incredible knowledge of so many genres and styles of music from across the centuries. His compositions are a breathtaking, kaleidoscopic journey through these influences and are bursting with energy and life. Over the past fifteen summers at Tanglewood, I have had the opportunity to connect with Nico — attending concerts, discussing orchestral performances and sharing a glass of wine. I have always been in awe of his quick wit, brilliance and vision. I’ve frequently been surprised that Nico, with all of his great percussion writing (and friendship with many percussionists), has not yet composed a proper concerto for solo percussion and orchestra. I’m thrilled to announce that we are officially embarking on a mission to rectify this matter.”
— George Nickson

, percussionist and conductor, holds the Margie and William H. Seay Chair as Principal Percussionist of The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, serves as Chair of the Percussion Department and Professor of Practice at Southern Methodist University, is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of ensemblenewSRQ and teaches contemporary chamber music studies at SMU, including the musical collective SYZYGY. George received the Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School where he studied with Daniel Druckman and completed his undergraduate studies at the New England Conservatory with Will Hudgins. In addition to his position with the DSO, George has performed with many of North America’s orchestras. Recent highlights include concerto performances at Tanglewood, solo performances at The Spoleto Festival, and solo recording projects for NAXOS, Bridge, and Albany Records. George has appeared as conductor in many notable performances of ensemblenewSRQ, with Sarasota Orchestra, musicians of the Dallas Symphony and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. These performances have featured numerous world premieres, U.S. Premieres and Florida Premieres, including Sebastian Currier’s WAVES, Wuorinen’s New York Notes, Boulez’ Sur incises, Le Marteau sans maître, and Sofia Gubaidulina’s Lyre of Orpheus.

 is an American composer who writes orchestral music, works for the stage, choral, chamber, and sacred music. He’s received commissions from The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, and Wigmore Hall; his choral music, both sacred and secular, has been performed by The Tal- lis Scholars and choirs across the United Kingdom. He has been featured at the Barbican, King’s Place and the Philharmonie de Paris as composer, conductor, pianist, and curator. An avid collaborator, he has worked with choreographers Benjamin Millepied, Justin Peck, Kyle Abraham, and Mark Morris; vocal collaborators include Iestyn Davies, Renée Fleming, and Nicholas Phan; artists Sufjan Stevens, The National, Teitur, Anohni, James Blake and Paul Simon. His work for screen includes scores for The Reader and Kill Your Darlings, the BBC’s adaptation of Howards End and Pachinko for Apple TV+. He has worked with visual artists Maira Kalman, Yu Hong, and Oliver Beer, and has created site-reactive works for the National Gallery, London, the Guggenheim Museum’s Asian Art Initiative at the Venice Biennale, and written articles for the Guardian, the New York Times, and the London Review of Books. Recordings of his works have been released by Decca and Nonesuch, and he is part of the artist-run record label Bedroom Community, which released his first two albums, Speaks Volumes (2006) and Mothertongue (2008).

Wildenthal Families Chief Artistic Officer

Concerto for Solo Percussion and Orchestra

The year 2026 marks a historic convergence: the 

 (1976) is one of Steve Reich’s most iconic works—a mesmerizing tapestry of interlocking rhythms, pulsing harmonies, and evolving patterns. Nearly 50 years after its creation, 

 continues to captivate audiences. Presenting this work in celebration of its 50th anniversary, alongside Steve Reich’s 90th birthday and our ensemble’s 10th, is both an homage to a living master and a reaffirmation of our own artistic mission.

Steve Reich, celebrated composer, 90th birthday celebration

George Nickson, percussion and musical direction

Conor Hanick, Han Chen, Wesley Ducote, pianists

About Steve Reich & Music for 18 Musicians

Praised as “the most original musical thinker of our time” (The New Yorker) and “among the great composers of the century ” (The New York Times), Steve Reich is widely recognized as a pioneer of minimalism and one of the most influential composers shaping modern music today. Steve Reich’s 

 is a groundbreaking composition that helped define the minimalist movement and has remained at the front of contemporary music since its premiere in 1976. Scored for voices, strings, clarinets, pianos, marimbas, xylophones, and vibraphone, the work is built around a cycle of 11 chords that gradually unfold into rich, evolving patterns of rhythm and harmony. Performed without pause for nearly an hour, the piece requires exceptional ensemble coordination and collective focus. It embodies Reich’s signature approach to pulse, repetition, and gradual transformation—qualities that have influenced generations of composers and performers across genres.

enSRQ: Human, Inclusive, Excellent, Inspiring, and Current

 by violinist Samantha Bennett and percussionist George Nickson, ensembleNEWSRQ (enSRQ) is a versatile chamber music ensemble in Sarasota, FL, dedicated to playing and advocating for the music of contemporary composers. Through thoughtfully curated and innovative programs, enSRQ demonstrates how contemporary music is a reflection of our world and cultural experience.

Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians

ensembleNEWSRQ in a Historic Convergence

This concerto will be in two large, contrasting sections, with an interlude in between. The first section will be a deep exploration of the vibraphone as an instrument of combination. The vibraphone will combine with other orchestral families and combinations of instruments to create new colors and sounds. The various themes that emerge from these different combinations will engage in play with one another, building the broader narrative of the movement. After a short, static interlude that explores the idea of clouds of sound out of which the vibraphone emerges, a sudden break will mark the beginning of the second of the two large sections — the vibraphone presenting itself as an instrument of contrast. In this section, the accumulated musical material is used as a means of creating dialogue between the soloist and different groups of instruments, echoing at times the elements that emerged in the first large section. Toward the end of this second section, the two large concepts fold back in on themselves, and the vibraphone retraces its dual roles from the entire composition before exploding into an ending that reaches new, unexplored heights.

is an American composer and advocate for the independent new music community in the US and around the world. His works for standout groups such as Roomful of Teeth, NOW Ensemble, and yMusic have reached global audiences and received widespread critical acclaim. As a founder of New Amsterdam Records and the Ecstatic Music Festival, Judd has been a leading voice in developing a genre-fluid musical infrastructure that endeavors to open new channels of participation and representation in contemporary music.

is a percussionist and conductor of great versatility and virtuosity who holds the Margie and William H. Seay Chair as Principal Percussionist of The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, serves as Chair of the Percussion Department and Professor of Practice at Southern Methodist University, is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of ensemblenewSRQ and teaches contemporary chamber music studies at SMU, including the musical collective SYZYGY . In addition to his position with the DSO, George has performed with many of North America's orchestras, as well as concerto performances at Tanglewood, solo performances at The Spoleto Festival, and solo recording projects for NAXOS, Bridge, and Albany Records.

For more information: judd@juddgreenstein.com / 917-941-1603

Judd Greenstein composes a new concerto for vibraphone and orchestra

Judd Greenstein x George Nickson

 is a 70-minute, large-scale staged vocal work by acclaimed composer 

, based on poetry by Pulitzer Prize-winner 

. Premiered in 2024, this one-act opera features five singers, 18-piece chamber orchestra, lighting, and electronics. This performance is a Co-Presentation from ensembleNEWSRQ and Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, in collaboration with American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*).

 Closing performance of ensembleNEWSRQ's 10th Anniversary Season

 ensembleNEWSRQ invites you to become a title sponsor of this landmark performance. This joint presentation from two of Sarasota’s leading cultural organizations brings world-class contemporary opera to our community, an artistic form that is not currently offered in Sarasota.

Access to additional offerings from AMOC* and enSRQ Artists Artist

Exclusive Artist Experiences: receptions, meet & greets, dinners

This is a rare opportunity to sponsor a visionary new work by two of the most influential artists of our time, featuring an extraordinary cast of performers and celebrating a decade of innovation in Sarasota’s music scene.

 (b. 1990) is an American composer, conductor, pianist, and writer known for his innovative contributions to contemporary classical music and opera. A Harvard graduate and a MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient, Aucoin gained early recognition for his operas, including 

 (2020), based on the play by Sarah Ruhl and premiered at the Metropolitan Opera. He has served as artist-in-residence at Los Angeles Opera and co-founded the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC). In addition to his compositional work, Aucoin is an accomplished conductor and writer, publishing essays on music and a critically acclaimed book, 

 (b. 1957) is an American opera and theater director known for his bold, contemporary interpretations of classical works and his collaborations with living composers. A graduate of Harvard University, he rose to prominence in the 1980s with provocative stagings of operas by Mozart, Handel, and others, often placing them in modern, politically charged settings. Sellars is closely associated with composers such as John Adams (

), frequently directing the premieres of their operas. He is acclaimed for integrating social and political themes into his work, pushing the boundaries of traditional opera.

 (b. 1950) is an acclaimed American poet known for her intellectually rich, formally innovative poetry that explores consciousness, history, and the human condition. Born in New York City and raised in Rome, she studied at the Sorbonne and later at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Graham is the author of numerous poetry collections, including 

, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1996. Her work is noted for its shifting forms, philosophical depth, and engagement with pressing global and existential issues. Graham has taught at Harvard University for many years and is considered one of the most influential poets of her generation. Founded in 2015 by Samantha Bennett and George Nickson, 

 is Sarasota’s only ensemble dedicated exclusively to the work of living composers. In just under a decade, they have presented over 230 works, including 16 commissions, 14 world premieres, and more than 125 Florida premieres. Their mission is not just to perform contemporary music, but to cultivate an environment where curiosity, innovation, and new voices thrive.

 (b. 1986) is an American bass-baritone celebrated for his powerful voice, commanding stage presence, and genre-defying performances. A graduate of Harvard University and The Juilliard School, Tines is known for his work in both traditional opera and contemporary music, often performing in projects that explore race, identity, and spirituality. He has premiered works by leading composers such as John Adams, Kaija Saariaho, and Matthew Aucoin, and co-created genre-blending performances like 

. Tines is also a founding core member of the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) and is widely regarded as a transformative force in 21st-century vocal performance.

 (b. 1987) is an American soprano acclaimed for her expressive voice, deep musical intelligence, and commitment to social justice through art. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Bard College, and The Juilliard School, Bullock has become a leading figure in both opera and concert performance, noted for her wide-ranging repertoire from classical to contemporary works. She has starred in productions at major opera houses worldwide and is known for curating powerful programs that highlight the voices of marginalized composers and stories. Bullock was the 2018–19 artist-in-residence at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and a founding core member of the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC).

 is an American pianist renowned for his virtuosic interpretations of contemporary music and his collaborations with leading living composers. A graduate of Northwestern University and The Juilliard School, Hanick is especially known for championing new works and has premiered compositions by artists such as Caroline Shaw, Matthew Aucoin, Nico Muhly, and Hans Abrahamsen. In addition to solo performances, Hanick is an in-demand chamber musician and educator, and a core member of the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) and a member of ensembleNEWSRQ. His playing is praised for its clarity, emotional depth, and technical brilliance.