Our Story
newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble…
is a professional chamber music ensemble featuring the music of living composers.
We program a wide range of composers, instrumentations, and styles— from a traditional piano trio or string quartet, to works for solo instrument and electronics, guzheng and woodwinds, or electric guitar and percussion.
Our concerts often blur the boundaries of classical art music, rock, jazz, world music, and the avant-garde. Other artistic disciplines are often part of newEar performances— you may see dance, visual arts, or theatre in the mix.
We strive to bring Kansas City the most eclectic and cutting-edge creative trends of the twenty-first century. You will see and hear some of the best musicians in our area interpreting music written in the last twenty years, never before heard in the region or sometimes anywhere in the world.
newEar has been the leading contemporary chamber ensemble in Kansas City for 31 years. We invite you to join us, listen, and experience the music of our time.
Our Mission
newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble dedicates itself to commissioning and performing music of our time and providing listeners with unique and stimulating musical experiences that are rooted in artistic excellence and enhanced by educational opportunities.
Vision
newEar, through its performances and creative partnerships, seeks to establish Kansas City as a vital center for contemporary chamber music.
Staff
Elizabeth Mayer, Bookkeeper
Seth Davis, Production Coordinator
Board of Directors
Paul Berlinsky, President
Laura Whitney-Johnson, Artistic Director, Vice President
William G. Belden, Treasurer
Dr. Lindsey Jarrett, Secretary
Kevin Clarke, Fundraising
Dr. Meagan Conley, Community Outreach
Giuseppe Junior Gallo-Balma Etes, Marketing
Nick Jarrett, Librarian
Scott Steele
Sascha Groschang
Christina Webster
Kyle Jones
Jennifer Wagner
Kim Wingate
Darrell Thompson
Advisory Board
Dr. Thomas Aber
Dr. Robert B. Carl
Dr. Chen Yi
Patrick Alonzo Conway
Joan DeMerchant
Dr. Fred Fowler
Rev. Dwight Frizzell
Dr. Andrew Granade
Neil Harris
Michael Henry
Yvonne Jameson
Dr. James Mobberley
Susan Murphy
Robyn Nichol
Dr. Paul Rudy
Dr. Merton Shatzin
Dr. Ingrid Stolzel
Dr. Leah Sproul Pulatie