University of Louisville Music Composition

09/18/2026

Premiered in 1996, the festival is forging an important tradition that highlights innovation and creativity, two hallmarks of our school’s mission. In keeping with this commitment, we are proud to present our fall 2026 New Music Festival.

The 2026 New Music Festival is excited to welcome guest composer and sound artist Piotr Peszat. Based in Krakow, Poland, Peszat creates music at the intersection of instruments, electronics and video. His work brings acoustic and electronic sounds into conversation with digital culture, connecting historical and contemporary ideas in unexpected ways. Throughout the festival, he will join us for concerts, rehearsals, lessons, presentations and special events.

Piotr Peszat is a composer and sound artist based in Cracow/Poland. His artistic activity combines instrumental and electronic music elements as well as multimedia and performance.

Peszat participated in workshops and festivals where his compositions were presented: Lucerne Festival, Ung Nordisk Musik Festival, Darmstadt Ferienkurse Für Neue Musik, Gaudeamus Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Ultraschall Festival. He collaborated with ensembles such as Ensemble Musik Fabrik, Klangforum Wien, Nadar Ensemble, Scenatet Ensemble and Ensemble Modern.

Peszat graduated with a distinction from the Music Academy in Cracow after composition studies with Krzysztof Meyer and master studies at The Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus in Simon Steen-Andersen’s and Niels Rønsholdt’s class. Peszat holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Academy of Music in Cracow (2018). He received habilitation in 2022.

He works as an adjunct professor in the Electroacoustic Music Studio at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków.

09/12/2026

Be sure to get these concert dates on your calendar, see you there!

For more information visit https://music.louisville.edu/community/concerts

10/03/2025

We are delighted to share the recording of Bellows Breath Concerto for accordion and string orchestra, premiered on March 15, 2025 at NOSPR in Katowice during the 11. Festiwal Prawykonań.
The concerto was commissioned by the festival and written especially for accordionist Rafał Łuc and the AUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of Tychy conducted by Marek Moś.
Yes, really - no electronics this time. Enjoy!

Rafał Łuć: accordionMarek Moś: conductingAUKSO Chamber Orchestra of the City of TychyNOSPR, Katowice, March 15, 2025Air—the essential element in the creation...

04/18/2025

A heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Krzysztof Wolek on being awarded a 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship! This prestigious honor recognizes not only his exceptional talent as a composer but also his profound contributions to the field as a recognized thought leader. Dr. Wolek’s work, celebrated both nationally and internationally, continues to push boundaries and inspire innovation in the world of music. We are incredibly proud to call him a colleague and to witness the recognition of his artistry and intellect by the Guggenheim.

A message of congratulations from President Edward Hirsch.

03/28/2025

We’re excited to share that Dr. Krzysztof Wolek, has jest released on Bandcamp his latest album, Zero Gained! 🔥
This experimental album dives deep into the extremes of sound—where intense pulses, complex rhythms, and vivid textures collide to create a powerful, immersive experience. Zero Gained explores themes of struggle, survival and dystopian future blending analogue and digital elements for a truly unique sonic journey.

👉 Listen now: https://tinyurl.com/yc7bz6hm

02/23/2025

Watch UofL Electro-Acoustic Ensemble's rehearsal of composer Joo Won Park's PS Quartet No. 2. And come join us for our first concert on March 25th at 7:00 PM in Bird Hall, featuring our own piece along with works by Mara Helmuth, John Gibson, Joo Won Park, Mike Lukaszuk, and Owen Hopper!

02/01/2025

🎶 Das Wohlpräparierte Klavier: Concert of Piano and Electronics 🎶

Join us for an exciting blend of classical piano and cutting-edge live electronics! Featuring captivating works by Philippe Manoury and Krzysztof Wołek, this event promises to be a remarkable exploration of sound and innovation.

🔹 Guest Artists:
🎹 Dr. Shiau-uen Ding — Piano
🎛️ Miller Puckette, Krzysztof Wołek — Live Electronics

📅 Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025
📍 Location: Comstock Hall, School of Music
🕒 Time: 3:00 - 3:50 PM

🎵 Free and open to all music lovers.

11/23/2024

Congratulations to all of our wonderful student composers who had their music performed this Thursday at Comstock Hall, and to their amazing colleagues who worked hard to give these amazing performances. We are so proud of this community of musicians and all around great people at the School of Music!

11/01/2024

Halloween installation fun for CCS students! With the guidance of Dr. Mu our students set up a fun, interactive new media installation outside of our annual orchestra Halloween concert!

Based on neural networking, RTcmix~ and Max/MSP, Ninjutsu Duel is a multimedia installation for 1 to 2 people to learn and explore Japanese Ninja hand gestures and use it to play with another person--similar to the popular animation Naruto and Boruto.

10/30/2024

The 2024 University of Louisville New Music Festival is almost upon us! We are very excited to be hosting 2021 Grawemeyer Award winner Lei Liang as our guest composer as well as the Talea Ensemble as our guest performers. Concerts include performances by students and faculty, chamber music, our brand new Electro Acoustic Ensemble, University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Collegiate Chorale and Cardinal Singers, New Music Ensemble, Computer Music and of course a feature concert by the Talea Ensemble! It's going to be an incredible week with a diverse program of incredible music. Hope to see you there!