Time Out

An old man sits by a stream. A young man comes along and climbs up a walnut tree by the side of the stream and begins to shake the branches of the tree. The old man says: "Young man, you are so foolish. By the time the walnuts hit the water, the river will cary them away." The young man replied: " I did not come to collect the walnuts; I came to hear the sound they make when they hit the water." - Rumi (1207-1272 A.D.)

For almost thirty years, the S.E.M. Ensemble has been organizing Reading-Workshops of new compositions by emerging composers. This yearly program gives each composer the opportunity to work with the Ensemble and conductor Petr Kotik during reading sessions. The Reading-Workshop culminates in a public performance at SEM’s Willow Place Auditorium. Participation in the Reading-Workshop has given an early start to many composers..