Present Music’s Artistic Director Kevin Stalheim has always favored low barriers between performers and audience. Sometimes, he has endeavored to lower the wall altogether. The interactivity of the web has provided him with another tool to that end. Once again, Present Music has allowed its audience for contemporary classical music to choose a concert program from a roster of MP3s selected by Stalheim. The winners from that online balloting will be performed at the group’s season finale concert, “Present Music Nation.”
Stalheim admits to being torn between thinking voter turnout was “not very big or that it was very big.” In the end, the tally represented a respectable percentage of their audience. In any event, “many people are satisfied with what we do without their input,” Stalheim explains. And he is pleased with the process that resulted in a program of 14 pieces by living composers.
Since a sense of surprise has always been inherent to Present Music, Stalheim isn’t saying who won. “We ended up with a balanced program. The music is playful, gritty, reflective, joyous, exuberant, simple and complex,” he says. “Sometimes the music is quiet, loud, beautiful and rhythmically boisterous—all in one piece.”
In addition to the online winners, Stalheim plans to perform music composed by employees of Badger Meter through Present Music’s community outreach program, the Creation Project. There will also be a “spontaneous audience creation piece,” adds Stalheim, who hopes to inspire audience members to compose something musical on the spot.
“I’m impressed by what our audience chose—what they came up with is broad in range. That’s what Present Music is all about—open and full of variety,” Stalheim concludes.
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“Present Music Nation” will be performed at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday, June 5 at the Hot Water Wherehouse, 818 S. Water St. For tickets, call 414-271-0711 or visit presentmusic.org.
