UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Arts and Architecture’s School of Music hosted the third biennial New-Music Festival and Symposium in March, which featured concerts and research presentations by musicians and scholars from around the world while showcasing cutting-edge contemporary compositions and thought-provoking scholarship.
Founded and organized by Baljinder Sekhon II, associate professor of composition, the third iteration of the festival received 608 composition submissions from 37 countries and 28 research presentation proposals from 10 countries. A panel of 22 expert reviewers selected the works and presentations featured in the festival.
“The festival is a highly collaborative and community-focused event that brings Penn State musicians together with composers, scholars and musicians from around the world,” Sekhon said. “The festival and symposium is an embodiment of fostering a transformative experience for students, maximizing the visibility of the arts and design at Penn State, engaging with communities through research and arts presentation, and leading in technology within the arts.”
Preparation for each festival and symposium begins about one year ahead of the event when Sekhon collaborates with faculty members in the ensemble and performance areas to set the submission categories.
Penn State School of Music faculty members create their own categories for each festival, which means each iteration is slightly different, Sekhon explained. For example, because of the quality of a graduate viola quartet in the school this year, organizers added a separate viola quartet category for the 2025 festival.
“Our ability to accommodate works with more complex technology has also steadily increased, which meant we were able to solicit works for Dolby Atmos (surround sound technology) playback for the 2025 festival,” Sekhon said. “Each new festival reflects the changes in our school, from faculty to student interests, and results in a wide range of musical styles, genres and instrumental configurations.”
The event showcases talent from across the School of Music by bringing together chamber ensembles, large ensembles, faculty and student soloists, music technology, composition and theory/history research.
Student performers and ensembles have a chance to work in-person with visiting composers on works composed in the last five years, and the composers themselves get to experience the talent and energy of the Penn State School of Music, Sekhon explained.
Penn State student composers can network and create connections with composers from around the United States and abroad. Research presenters share their research on a variety of topics relating to contemporary music, from music technology to analytical and philosophical examinations of current trends in music composition.
“The festival provides students and faculty with a look beyond the boundaries of our campus by bringing composers and their music and research to us for examination, discussion, exploration, collaboration and performance,” Sekhon said.
Looking to the future, Sekhon said there are several additions in the works for the festival, which could include expanding the event by one or two days. Additionally, there is a plan to reach outside of the School of Music and create interdisciplinary submission categories, which could include themed categories such as music and film, architecture, dance and sustainability.
“The festival will continue to shift with faculty and student interests within the School of Music,” Sekhon said. “But it will always showcase the wonderful work our students and faculty are doing to a broader community of musicians who leave understanding why Penn State is a destination for new-music activities.”