Greenlight New Music Festival gives local artists chance to showcase music

One of the groups that performed at the opening concert was No Exit New Music Ensemble. No Exit is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo taken by Karli Kruse

On Oct. 15, the Greenlight New Music Festival held its kick-off concert at the Tweed Museum of Art. The Greenlight New Music Festival is a contemporary classical music festival that focuses on celebrating local musicians and composers.

Greenlight New Music Festival co-founders Tyler Pimm (left) and Alexandra Hecker (right). Photo by Karli Kruse

Alexandra Hecker, music department alumni, is one of the co-founders of Greenlight New Music Festival. Hecker explained that her and the event co-organizer are both local contemporary musicians who wanted to create a more prominent Duluth music scene.

“We both love music by [current] composers and love supporting our local art and music scene”, Hecker said. “We got together on the phone one night and agreed that Duluth doesn’t have a new music scene like it should. We have great faculty members and musicians, but there isn’t a thriving music scene like there is in Chicago or New York.”

One of the groups featured in the opening show was a contemporary music group called Zeitgeist. Hecker shared that Zeitgeist “is the oldest contemporary music ensemble based in St. Paul” and “they are the heart of the new music scene [in the Twin Cities].”

Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble based in St. Paul is one of the longest established new music groups in the United States. Photo by Karli Kruse

Hecker herself will be playing in the final show of the festival on Oct. 17 at Bent Paddle Brewing Company at 7:30 p.m.

The other founder of Greenlight New Music Festival is music department alumni Tyler Pimm. Pimm graduated from UMD in 2015 with a bachelor of music and theory of composition. He is a pianist and organist.

Pimm was excited about the audience turnout for the first show in the Tweed because it was larger than he and Hecker had anticipated.

“I am really excited about the final concert at Bent Paddle. It’s going to be a party,” Pimm said.

Pimm is looking forward to the final concert because it is featuring many local and out-of-town artists including Hecker playing the clarinet, a UMD percussion student and an improvisational cellist from Oklahoma.`

UMD composition graduate student Adam Glenski had a piece of his played by No Exit New Music Ensemble at the concert. Photo by Karli Kruse

One of the pieces played by Zeitgeist at the opening concert was “pareidolia” by UMD composition graduate student and composer Adam Glenski.

Glenski reflected on how hearing his piece being played made him feel.

“It was a great experience to have world-class musicians performing one of my pieces,” Glenski said. “Being a student it is always great getting feedback on how pieces sound live.”

Glenski is involved in the Duluth music scene and has been able to make connections through the community.

“One of my favorite things about the Duluth music scene is the wide variety of music that is played,” Glenski said.

Glenski is most interested and involved in the jazz music scene, and he loves being able to participate in jazz gigs around Duluth and experience the camaraderie of other Duluth musicians.