Hoff-Barthelson Music School Presents the 2026 Music of Our Time Festival

A Celebration of Contemporary Music Featuring a World Premiere Commission

Hoff-Barthelson Music School proudly presents the 2026 Music of Our Time Festival, a dynamic, multi-day exploration of contemporary music running April 16–19, 2026. Under the artistic direction of Grammy-nominated cellist and faculty member Peter Seidenberg, the Festival showcases an extraordinary range of works written from 1976 to the present, highlighting the creativity of living composers alongside the artistry of Hoff-Barthelson’s students and faculty.

Founded by the late visionary composer and longtime HBMS faculty member Wilma Machover, and continuing through the support of the Wilma Machover Fund, the Festival has become a cornerstone of the School’s commitment to contemporary music, innovation, and artistic exploration.

“The Music of Our Time Festival is about bringing composers and performers into direct dialogue,” said Peter Seidenberg, Artistic Director. “It gives our students the rare opportunity to engage with living composers, explore new musical languages, and participate in the creation of music that speaks to our time.”

The Festival opens on Thursday, April 16, with the Compose Yourself Project Recital, featuring original works by students in Hoff-Barthelson’s composition program. Throughout the weekend, audiences will experience a wide array of performances, including student recitals, faculty concerts, and collaborative projects that illuminate the richness and diversity of contemporary music.

A highlight of the Festival is the Composer Collaborations Recital on Friday, April 17, where students perform works by living composers with whom they have worked directly, gaining invaluable insight into interpretation and artistic intent. The same evening features an HB Artist Series Faculty Concert, presenting works by contemporary composers performed by distinguished members of the Hoff-Barthelson faculty.

Saturday’s programming includes themed student recitals exploring music of the Soviet era, works from 1976 to the present, and a special program celebrating women composers whose voices have shaped the musical landscape of the late twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

On Sunday, April 19, the Festival culminates in a series of concerts that embody its spirit of innovation and collaboration. The second annual Micro-Commissions Project, a partnership with the Manhattan School of Music, pairs Hoff-Barthelson students with emerging composers to create brand-new works tailored to each performer.

The Festival concludes with the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by composer Flannery Cunningham, recipient of support through the Wilma Machover Fund. Her piece, We long to wake, for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble, draws on poetry by Carl Sandburg and the traditions of Sacred Harp singing to explore themes of mortality, human experience, and the urgency of living with awareness and intention.

“In We long to wake, I was drawn to the idea of contrasting human worlds and the ways music can bring them into conversation,” said Flannery Cunningham. “The piece ultimately asks us to reflect on how we live—to remain awake to what matters most and to the shared human experiences that connect us.”

Executive Director Gabriella Sanna emphasized the Festival’s role in shaping the next generation of musicians: “The Music of Our Time Festival reflects Hoff-Barthelson’s enduring commitment to artistic excellence and innovation. By immersing students in the music of living composers and providing opportunities to collaborate, create, and perform, we are preparing them not only as musicians, but as thoughtful, engaged artists in today’s world.”

All Festival events are open to the public, with many offered free of charge, inviting the community to experience the vitality and relevance of contemporary music.

For more information, visit www.hbms.org.

Festival Schedule of Events

• Thursday, April 16, 2026
  • Compose Yourself Project Recital (7:00–8:00 pm) – Original student compositions created under the direction of Derek Cooper

• Friday, April 17, 2026
  • Student Recital: Composer Collaborations (6:00–7:00 pm) – Students perform works by living composers with whom they have worked directly
  • HB Artist Series Faculty Concert (7:30–9:00 pm) – Faculty perform works by contemporary composers including Kian Ravaei, Derek Cooper, Brian Field, and others

• Saturday, April 18, 2026
  • Student Recital: The Soviets, 1922–1988 (2:30–3:30 pm) – A program exploring music created under the Soviet regime
  • Student Recital: 1976–Present (4:00–5:00 pm) – A survey of contemporary repertoire across genres and styles
  • Student Recital: Women at the Millennium: 1976–Present (7:00–8:00 pm) – Celebrating influential women composers of the late 20th and 21st centuries

• Sunday, April 19, 2026
  • Micro-Commissions Project Recital (1:00–2:00 pm) – New works created through a collaboration with the Manhattan School of Music
  • Flute and Viola Clubs Concert (3:00–4:00 pm) – Performances by HBMS ensembles featuring contemporary repertoire
  • Final Concert: Commissioned Work and Festival Ensembles (5:00–6:00 pm) – Featuring the world premiere of We long to wake by Flannery Cunningham and the announcement of the Wilma Machover Creative Development Fund recipient

Program and artists are subject to change. For more details, visit www.hbms.org.

About Hoff-Barthelson Music School
Founded in 1944, Hoff-Barthelson Music School is one of the nation’s premier community music schools and a leader in music education for students of all ages, levels, and backgrounds. Located in Scarsdale, NY, the School is renowned for its exceptional faculty, comprehensive curriculum, and nurturing environment that fosters both artistic and personal growth. Guided by its mission to inspire excellence and welcome all, Hoff-Barthelson offers individualized instruction, ensemble experiences, and performance opportunities that cultivate a lifelong love and understanding of music.

Photo: Composer Flannery Cunningham, whose newly commissioned work We long to wake will receive its premiere at Hoff-Barthelson Music School’s 2026 Music of Our Time Festival, April 16–19. Photo supplied by Ms. Cunningham.