Commencement Weekend 2016

Last weekend, CIM celebrated its 91st Commencement Ceremony, during which the 2016 graduating class was treated to a keynote address by virtuoso and new music pioneer, Claire Chase. Chase visited CIM earlier this semester where she engaged students and spoke with radio station WCLV for an interview about her various projects and collaborations. Listen to the interview on wclv.org and watch Chase's speech at CIM's 2016 Commencement Ceremony!

Claire Chase, founder and co-artistic director of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), has been heralded throughout the music community for her passion for and support of new and experimental music. Since its founding, ICE has premiered more than 650 works, making new music and audience engagement one of its hallmarks. ICE challenges conventions with its varied performance outlets, wide ranging ensemble formations and even with the types of instruments the performers play. ICE was recognized with the Trailblazer Award from the American Music Center in 2010 and the Ensemble of the Year Award in 2014 from Musical America Worldwide. In 2012 Chase was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her work with ICE.

As a performer Claire has garnered praise by The New York Times as having “extravagant technique, broad stylistic range and penetrating musicality,” and was dubbed “the young star of the modern flute,” by The New Yorker. She has performed throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia and has released three solo albums. Learn more about Claire.