SYNNERGY
JUNE 11 - 14, 2025 | KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Join us for our inaugural SYNNERGY event — a high-energy celebration of cutting-edge music, collaboration, and community. SYNNERGY is meant to be the culmination of our entire season, uniting our local and international audiences to conclude the Nief-Norf Summer Festival. Featuring performances, presentations, masterclasses, interactive workshops, panel discussions, & so much more, SYNNERGY offers an immersive experience that showcases the vibrant spirit of contemporary music today!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
CONCERTS & FACULTY SOLO SHOWS
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OPENING CONCERT
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 7:30 PM EST
THE SQUARE ROOMFeaturing works by Brandon Becker, David Del Tredici, Sarah Gibson, Sofia Gubaidulina, Barbara Kolb, Chelsea Loew, Joo Won Park, Kaija Saariaho, & Kevin Zetina
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WORLD PREMIERES I
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 4:30 PM EST
SANDRA G. POWELL RECITAL HALLFeaturing six newly-composed works by NNSF25 Composition Fellows.
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WORLD PREMIERES II
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 8:00 PM EST
SANDRA G. POWELL RECITAL HALLFeaturing six newly-composed works by NNSF25 Composition Fellows.
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LISA CELLA
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 11:00 AM
SANDRA G. POWELL RECITAL HALLProgram TBD!
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FOLX PERCUSSION SHOWCASE
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2:00 PM EST
LOCATION TBDFeaturing Hannah Moore & McKenzie Squires.
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DETECTIVE CONVENTION
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 8:00 PM EST
OLD CITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTERDetective Convention by Annika Socolofsky
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KEVIN ZETINA
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 11:00 AM
SANDRA G. POWELL RECITAL HALLProgram TBD!
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FORMALIST QUARTET SHOWCASE
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2:00 PM EST
ADDISON’S BOOKSTOREFeaturing Andrew McIntosh, Mark Menzies, Andrew Tholl, & Ashley Walters
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VICKY CHOW
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 5:00 PM
SANDRA G. POWELL RECITAL HALLProgram TBD!
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CALL FOR SCORES SHOWCASE
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 8:00 PM EST
OLD CITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTERAllure — Michael Boyd
Sand aSH — Ya-Lan Chan
In den finsteren Zeiten — Inga Chinilina
Diptych — June Young (Will) Kim
Pietà — Peter Kramer
PRESENTATIONS, WORKSHOPS, & MORE!
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ALEX DALLY | NIEF-NORF
PRESENTATION SERIES
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 9:00 AM
Sandra G. Powell Recital HallA sneak peek into what goes on behind-the-scenes at Nief-Norf, including an exclusive preview of our 2025 - 2026 season & plans for the next ten years!
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IN C READING
FESTIVAL-WIDE OPEN PERFORMANCE
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 10:00 AM
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Room 110Our NNSF25 Faculty & Fellows will lead a reading of Terry Riley’s In C — anyone & everyone is welcome to play or observe!
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COMP FELLOW PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATION SERIES
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1:30 PM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterOur twelve NNSF25 Composition Fellows will present mini overviews of their portfolios, compositional processes, & more!
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PLEASE TOUCH THE ART: RETHINKING THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE
PANEL DISCUSSION
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 9:00 AM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterWhat happens when we tear down the wall between performer and audience? This panel dives into interactive, immersive, and participatory approaches to new music performance — where listeners might walk, touch, speak, or even shape the sound.
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IMPROVISATION SESSION
FESTIVAL-WIDE OPEN PERFORMANCE
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 10:00 AM
Natalie L. Haslam Music Center, Room 110Our NNSF25 Faculty will lead an open improvisation session — anyone & everyone is welcome to play or observe!
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ALEX RING GRAY
PRESENTATION SERIES
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 4:00 PM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterAlex Ring Gray is a composer, performer, and multimedia artist working across many mediums –especially concert music, film scores, and installations. Join him for an exploration of his work and expertise, which is largely driven by conceptual processes, procedural generative systems, and improvisation, blending his roots in the traditions of free jazz, austere minimalism, Appalachian folk, and ambient electronic.
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ANNIKA SOCOLOFSKY
PRESENTATION SERIES
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 5:00 PM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterAnnika Socolofsky is a composer and avant folk vocalist who explores corners and colors of the voice frequently deemed to be "untrained" and not "classical." Her presentation will center around her research, which focuses on contemporary vocal music, using the music of Dolly Parton to create a pedagogical approach to composition that is inclusive of a wide range of vocal qualities, genres, and colors.
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PETER KRAMER
PRESENTATION SERIES
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 9:00 AM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterPeter’s work, Pietà, was selected by panelists as one of our 2025 International Call for Scores winners. He’ll be presenting his work, compositional process, & more!
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JUNE YOUNG (WILL) KIM
PRESENTATION SERIES
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 10:00 AM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterWill’s work, Diptych, was selected as one of our 2023 International Call for Scores winners. This piece, and more of his compositions, feature amplified canvases drawn on with pastels — he’ll be sharing his creative process in composing multi-media works & more!
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MORE THAN MUSIC: ARTISTS AS ADVOCATES
PANEL DISCUSSION
SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 3:30 PM
Natalie L. Haslam Music CenterContemporary musicians are doing more than composing and performing — they’re organizing, educating, and fighting for the future of the arts. This panel explores how artists use their creative work and community roles to advocate for funding, access, equity, and meaningful cultural impact.
