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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 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.

In 2024-2025 TEMPO celebrates its 16th 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.

Performances 2024-2025

September 8, 2024 @7:30pm

California State University, Northridge
Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall

Principal Guest Conductor: Michael Powers

  • Quenton Blache- afloat
  • Devon Cholodenko – Chasing Memories
  • Andrea Reinkemeyer – Red Flame
  • Tristan Wilson – Gilding Cages

Plus 

  • Kyle Simpson – WORLD PREMIERE – Omsluten av Natten (Enveloped by Night)
  • Elliott Carter – Canon for 4
  • Kaija Saariaho – Cendres

January 26th, 2025 @7:30pm

California State University, Northridge
Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall

Principal Guest Conductor: Michael Powers

  • Joao Pedro Paiva Oliveira – Tension-deformation
  • Angela Elizabeth Slater – Flickering Airs
  • Yuting Tan – Kinetic Toys

Plus!

  • Meg Okura – Phantasmagoria
  • Arvo Pärt – Mozart Adagio

Score Submission

TEMPO Ensemble

Score submissions for our 2024-25 season (our 16th) are now complete

We want to congratulate all the wonderful works we had the opportunity to review in the past 10 weeks. So many fantastic pieces to choose from and we loved having you share your music with us!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2024-25 FEATURED COMPOSERS!

Quenton Blache – afloat 

Devin Cholodenko – Chasing Memory

Joao Pedro Paiva Oliveira – Tension-deformation

Andrea Reinkemeyer – Red Flame

Angela Elizabeth Slater – Flickering Airs

Yuting Tan – Kinetic Toys

Tristan Wilson – Gilding Cages

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