2026 SEASON

Photo: Steven Taylor

Cellist Tommy Mesa performs the world premiere of Andrea Casarrubios' The Book of Signatures on a season celebrating the vital contributions of women immigrant composers to the American musical landscape.

For America’s 250th anniversary, Next Fest presents a program of daring work by women immigrant composers at PS21 in Chatham, NY and National Sawdust in Brooklyn. The centerpiece is a newly commissioned concerto for cello, strings, and percussion by the Spanish-born, GRAMMY-nominated Andrea Casarrubios entitled The Book of Signatures. Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa will perform as soloist alongside the Festival Fellows and percussionist Garret Arney.

In addition, Artistic Director Peter Askim will lead the string orchestra in world premieres by Niloufar Nourbakhsh (Iran), Festival alumna Adeliia Faizullina (Tatarstan/Uzbekistan), and Wang Lu (China), alongside timely works by Clarice Assad (Brazil) and Aleksandra Vrebalov (Serbia).

PROGRAM:

Aleksandra Vrebalov: Ur Song (US Premiere, String Orchestra Version)

Adellia Faizullina: Six, Before She Knew and After (World Premiere)

Wang Lu: from Tangrams (World Premiere, String Orchestra Version)

Clarice Assad: from Impressions
‍ ‍Slow Waltz
‍ ‍Perpetual Motion

Niloufar Nourbakhsh: For Love Seemed Easy at First (World Premiere, String Orchestra Version)

Andrea Casarrubios: The Book of Signatures (World Premiere)

JUNE 5, 7:30PM

PS 21

Chatham, NY

tickets & INFO

JUNE 6, 7:30PM

National Sawdust

Brooklyn, NY

tickets & INFO

The second week of the festival, based at Gibney Dance in NYC, is centered on collaboration and creation. With mentorship from Pulitzer and GRAMMY-winning Aaron Kernis and acclaimed choreographer Sidra Bell, early-career creators develop exciting new work at the intersection of music and dance. Join us for a pay-what-you-can showing on June 11 featuring discipline-crossing works-in-progress and world premieres of new compositions by our composer fellows.