Syracuse Sun

Music by Syracuse University graduate student Rolando Gómez will be featured at the Society for New Music’s (SNM) annual Prizewinners Concert on Sunday, April 13, at CNY Jazz Central in Syracuse. Gómez, a master's composition student at the Setnor School of Music, received an honorable mention for the Brian Israel/Sam Pellman Award in 2024.

Gómez's woodwind quintet, "Sit and Play," is part of the program alongside Sami Seif's "Orientalism," and Maxim Dybal-Denysenko's "Bodensee." These works by promising New York state composers will be presented by the composers themselves.

Tickets for the event are priced at $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors, with free entry for students under 18 with a valid college ID. More information and tickets can be found on SNM’s website.

Carole Brzozowski, SNM’s Managing Director, remarks on the concert's growth as a local tradition, highlighting the organization's role in promoting young composers. “It’s a celebration of emerging talent,” Brzozowski shares, expressing pride in SNM's leadership in supporting innovative composers.

"Sit and Play" was initially performed by the Juicy Kandy quintet at the 2023 Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival in New York City, marking Gómez's compositional debut there. The work captures his love for jazz and bebop, embodying a suite of four character pieces that include "Jab and Stab," "Breathe and Sing," "Cut and Paste," and "Riff and Run." Gómez's interaction with professional musicians has allowed him to integrate unique elements and personal influences into his compositions.

Gómez reflects on the importance of working with SNM, saying, “Working with the Society for New Music is incredibly meaningful.” His piece will be performed by Kate O’ Leary, Sydney Kincaid, John Giordano, Lily Carpinone, and Ryan Hill.

Gómez's journey in music composition began in high school with video game scoring, later advancing his studies at Oberlin Conservatory before joining Syracuse under assistant professor Natalie Draper, whose guidance has broadened his musical techniques.

Seif and Dybal-Denysenko's contributions, "Orientalism" and "Bodensee," will also be presented. "Orientalism" reflects on identity and time through a lens inspired by Edward Said, while "Bodensee" pays homage to a significant family location shared by historical composer Robert Schumann.

The concert supports the legacy of Brian Israel and Sam Pellman, both instrumental figures in fostering talents through SNM, which was co-founded by the late Neva Pilgrim, an essential community partner and VPA professor. Pilgrim's vision endures through SNM, a regional leader in presenting new music year-round.