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Opposite: SHULIN GUO’s playing— translated into video projections using a system created by QIUYI WU and BOSHAN ZHOU (MFA Design and Technology) and visiting scholar YINAN ZHANG—flooded the stage with color. Top row: In creating formal attire for performers, students chose cool wool, cotton jersey, breathable mesh, and stretch fabrics to help performers stay comfortable while they played.
Far left: Percussionist JESSICA TSANG displays the gloves she wore while playing, which feature motion-capturing sensors (created by MFA Design and Technology students ROSS LEONARDY and JEREMY PETERSON) that controlled projected video animations. Right: After the performance, which opened Parsons Festival 2013, BSO music director MARIN ALSOP and TOMIO TAKI congratulated the faculty members and deans at Parsons and Mannes who led the collaboration. Left to right: RICHARD KESSLER, GABRIEL ASFOUR, MARIN ALSOP, ALISON MEARS, TOMIO TAKI, SABINE SEYMOUR, and ANNE GAINES.
The concert included a piano solo, “The Serpent’s Kiss,” by William Bolcom; a percussion piece, “When Music Is Missing, Music Sings,” by Stuart Saunders Smith; and an ensemble performance of Quintet for Piano and Strings, op. 34, by composer and Mannes professor LOWELL LIEBERMANN. The concert opened with percussionists JESSICA TSANG and PHILLIP GALLO, whose movements directed animations projected overhead. Next came pianist SHULIN GUO, dressed in white, sitting at a white-slipcovered piano. Her playing activated a projector that shone moving patterns on her cape, gown, and piano, while another sent shapes dancing across the backdrop. The ensemble—Mannes master’s students JOE GOTOFF (cello), SAM KELDER (viola), MEREDITH RAMSAY (violin), and KATHERINE LICCARDO (violin) and undergraduate REED TETZLOFF (piano)—wore classic attire altered to make the garments comfortable and appealing. Pleats in Ramsay’s gown, for example, fanned open elegantly as she played. Kelder hopes the enhancements will attract
youthful patrons. “The clothes and visuals offer younger audiences a way into classical music,” he said. “An important part of the collaboration was rethinking concert performances with other New School students.” Attendees were impressed by the union of music and images. Mannes dean RICHARD KESSLER remarked, “It’s inspiring to think that this collaboration could ensure a brighter future for classical music.” Seymour, director of Parsons’ Fashionable Technology Lab, agreed: “I’m excited to see students developing new ways for artists and audiences to experience music in our networked world.” new.livestream.com/TheNewSchool/bso ft.parsons.edu/bso
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