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TEMPO

The Epicenter Musical Performance Organization

New Music Ensemble

Los Angeles, California

About

TEMPO (The Epicenter Musical Performance Organization), dedicated to the pursuit, performance, and perseverance of contemporary music, was formed in 2008 at California State University, Northridge by Daniel Kessner and Julia Heinen. This ground-breaking ensemble seeks to promote and celebrate the rich diversity of our world through the performance of contemporary musical stories.

In 2025-2026 TEMPO celebrates its 17th season of bringing contemporary music to the world.  In addition to programming established contemporary works,  it also hosts an annual “Call for Scores,” selecting several works to feature each season.

Our 17th season will feature an 80th birthday celebration of one of our founders, Dan Kessner. We hope you’ll come and join us to celebrate him and his music.

In Spring 2019, TEMPO was honored to receive 1st prize at the Doug Davis Performance Grant for their performance of Fred Lerdahl’s “Time After Time.” In addition, Doug Davis has sponsored a commission for a new work by composer David Werfelmann was premiered in February 2023.

The ensemble of flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion consists of faculty, alumni, and friends,  all of whom share a passion for performing works from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Performances 2025-2026

September 21, 2025 @7:30pm

California State University, Northridge
Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall

          • Xinyuan Deng – Echoes of Silver Rain
          • Jeffrey Gao – Phantom Choreographies
          • Ellen Ruth Harrison –  Echo of One
          • Wenbyn Lu – Galactic Playground

Plus other works!!!

February 1, 2026 @7:30pm

California State University, Northridge
Shigemi Matsumoto Recital HallSeptember 8, 2024 @7:30pm

          • Christopher Jessup – Suite for Viola and Piano
          • Andrew List – The Dignified Heart

Celebrating Dan Kessner at 80!

          • Dan Kessner – Poles Apart 
          • Dan Kessner –  Enchanted Garden
          • Dan Kessner- Imaginary Temple

May 22, 2025 @7:30pm

University of California Santa Barbara

  • works by student composers and faculty 

Score Submission

TEMPO Ensemble

Score submissions for our 2025-26 season (our 17th) are now closed.

Thank you to all the wonderful works we received.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNING COMPOSERS FOR 2025-26

              • Xinyuan Deng – Echoes of Silver Rain
              • Jeffrey Gao – Phantom Choreographies
              • Ellen Ruth Harrison –  Echo of One
              • Christopher Jessup – Suite for Viola and Piano
              • Andrew List – The Dignified Heart
              • Wenbyn Lu – Galactic Playground

Contact

TEMPO New Music Ensemble

California State University, Northridge

Department of Music

Attention: Julia Heinen

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8314

(818) 677-3168

julia.heinen@csun.edu