Fall 2021 brings two major premieres

The Bravo! Vail Music Festival (Bravo! Vail), a top U.S. classical music festival and the only festival in North America to host four orchestras each summer, announces composer Chris Rogerson as its next Artistic Director. Selected from an applicant pool of internationally renowned musicians and arts leaders, Rogerson assumes Artistic Director Designate role immediately and the Artistic Director title on September 1, 2026, for an initial three-year term.

This year, Rogerson received two premieres at Alice Tully as part of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's season. Benjamin Beilman performed the New York premiere of "Arietta" on November 21, 2025 and the Escher Quartet with violist Paul Neubauer gave the New York premiere of "String Quintet" on February 11, 2026.

Nu Deco Ensemble releases Second Nature, featuring "Sacred Earth," a work I wrote for mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges and Nu Deco Ensemble, premiered at the Arsht Center in Miami in December 2021. This work was made in collaboration with Keith Ladzinski of National Geographic who provided visuals for the work as well as album artwork. The album also features Gershwin's iconic work "Rhapsody in Blue."