The Bridges Composition Competition calls on young composers from around the globe to add their creative perspectives to the “bridge” between the Steans Institute’s jazz and classical focuses with new works written for string quartet and jazz combo. Up to three winners are selected annually to receive the David Baker Prize—an award of $2,500 and a week to further develop their music with renowned composer-performers and Steans Jazz co-Artistic Directors pianist Billy Childs, bassist John Clayton, and saxophonist Steve Wilson, as well as the ensemble that is premiering their work this evening.
The classical quartet is assembled by Steans alum and cellist Alexander Hersh, who co-directs NEXUS Chamber Music in Chicago. The ensemble also features fellow alums and violinists Claire Bourg, who is concertmaster of Philadelphia’s Symphony in C, and Miho Saegusa, a member of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Iris Collective, as well as Robert Switala, the co-principal violist of the Sphinx Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.
The jazz combo renews the musical melding of saxophonist Greg Ward, trumpeter James Davis, pianist Walter Gorra, bassist Dan “Chimy” Chmielinski, and drummer Kenneth Salters—all alums of the Steans Jazz Program and representing its more than two decades of artistic depth. Each has recorded as a bandleader and toured extensively as sidemen, with Chimy regularly presenting jazz/classical fusion repertoire as leader of Four by Four.