Loop38 co-founder Yvonne Chen
There is a new contemporary music ensemble in town, and it aspires to introduce a whole new sound and level of musicianship to Houston. Loop38 — a 17-person collective of passionate, virtuosic musicians co-founded and by conductor Jerry Hou and pianist Yvonne Chen — presents its debut concert, “Loop38 Live” Tuesday, December 6, at 7:30pm at the MATCH Gallery.
Before settling in Houston, Chen had spent her undergraduate studies at Juilliard as a soloist inspired by the innovation and drive of the large ensembles that reside in New York City. Hou, on the other hand, had collaborated with many of the leading composers of the day and developed a knack for interpreting new music, working with groups such as Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt).
By May 2016, Chen was in the midst of her doctoral studies and Hou had finished another year as Associate Conductor at the Shepherd School of Music. Chen and Hou had performed new music together in concerts at school and for Musiqa and discovered that there is a fantastic repertoire of contemporary music particularly for large ensembles that isn’t being performed in Houston. The idea of founding a ensemble began to take hold.
“Once we started talking about it with friends and peers, we found ourselves with a group of virtuosic musicians eager to showcase their talents with these technically and musically demanding pieces,” said Hou. “Our members come from all different parts of the world, with the desire to share their unique experiences and perspectives in music with the Houston community.”
“Our size gives Loop38 the flexibility of a large ensemble,” stated Chen, “while mimicking both the richness of a full orchestra and the intimacy of a chamber group.”
“We’re proud to support the launch of Loop38,” stated Musiqa artistic director, Anthony Brandt. “Another group of talented, energetic musicians committed to contemporary classical music demonstrates Houston is a destination for innovation and overflows with creative vitality.”
Loop38 co-founder Jerry Hou
“Loop38 Live” presents a variety of music composed in the recent years, including Musical America’s 2017 Composer of the Year, Andrew Norman’s “Try”. Also on the program is Christopher Cerrone’s “Recovering”, literally surrounds listeners with “a haze of breath sounds,” while Missy Mazzoli’s “The Sound of Light” reflects the energy and spirit of young musicians with dancing grooves.
The performance closes with British composer Thomas Adès’ “Living Toys”, which was cited at the 1994 Paris Rostrum as “the best score by a composer under 30”. Full of extended techniques and references ranging from bullfighting to the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, “Living Toys” captures the talent, imagination, and grit of a young musician determined to make a statement.
To purchase tickets visit: matchouston.org.
Top photo by Lynn Lane.