NAC Participants: Creators and Researchers
Simon Bielman: pianist & composer
has had several musical influences throughout his life: his father’s old jazz records, soundtracks to cartoon slapstick violence, his brother’s CDs of various string quartets, down-tempo house music on internet radio stations... However, he had no inclination to live through music until he’d heard performances of Rachmaninoff concertos, listened to the piano works of Ravel, and began to comprehend the depth and passion in the Shostakovich symphonies. This change happened when Simon was fifteen, a very late age for most musicians, but once music entered his life, there was no turning back. As cliché as it may sound, Simon did not choose a career in music – it chose him.
Throughout his life, Simon learned that music which moves us and inspires us will always be relevant, whether it was written yesterday or three hundred years ago. He looks back to different artists from different eras for ideas while at the same time looking forward to always make something new. Yet, he always strives to stay true to his roots and remember what inspired him: Mozart’s ideas and songs written by The Beatles may be old and out of fashion, but there is something that compels every generation to listen regardless of their age. Simon writes new music not for the sake of being new, but to inspire, regardless of where that inspiration comes from. Most of his pieces are for solo piano or small ensembles. He's always been drawn to music with a handful of performers because he enjoys seeing and hearing the artistry that individual musicians bring to their performances.
Simon earned his Bachelor’s degree at Western Oregon University where he studied piano under Dr. Diane Baxter and composition under Dr. Arnold Friedman, Dr. Joseph Harchanko, and Dr. Kevin Walczyk. He is a distinguished performer and composer, having won awards for performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3 in c minor and the original work Paganini Variations for piano quartet. Simon currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
Website: soundcloud.com/synival
NAC Projects: The Singing Butler (2017), The Child's Frightful Fantasy (2017), Kunstkino Bielbaum (2019)
has had several musical influences throughout his life: his father’s old jazz records, soundtracks to cartoon slapstick violence, his brother’s CDs of various string quartets, down-tempo house music on internet radio stations... However, he had no inclination to live through music until he’d heard performances of Rachmaninoff concertos, listened to the piano works of Ravel, and began to comprehend the depth and passion in the Shostakovich symphonies. This change happened when Simon was fifteen, a very late age for most musicians, but once music entered his life, there was no turning back. As cliché as it may sound, Simon did not choose a career in music – it chose him.
Throughout his life, Simon learned that music which moves us and inspires us will always be relevant, whether it was written yesterday or three hundred years ago. He looks back to different artists from different eras for ideas while at the same time looking forward to always make something new. Yet, he always strives to stay true to his roots and remember what inspired him: Mozart’s ideas and songs written by The Beatles may be old and out of fashion, but there is something that compels every generation to listen regardless of their age. Simon writes new music not for the sake of being new, but to inspire, regardless of where that inspiration comes from. Most of his pieces are for solo piano or small ensembles. He's always been drawn to music with a handful of performers because he enjoys seeing and hearing the artistry that individual musicians bring to their performances.
Simon earned his Bachelor’s degree at Western Oregon University where he studied piano under Dr. Diane Baxter and composition under Dr. Arnold Friedman, Dr. Joseph Harchanko, and Dr. Kevin Walczyk. He is a distinguished performer and composer, having won awards for performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3 in c minor and the original work Paganini Variations for piano quartet. Simon currently lives in Berlin, Germany.
Website: soundcloud.com/synival
NAC Projects: The Singing Butler (2017), The Child's Frightful Fantasy (2017), Kunstkino Bielbaum (2019)
Kevin Elmore: composer
Born in 1971, Kevin Elmore grew up breathing the music of Beethoven, Handel, and Johnny Cash. Enamored with the idea of a single person on a stool with a guitar, Kevin began playing the guitar at age 8. During high school, Kevin studied with composer and opera coach Christopher Lacy. Existing in the outskirts of the the arts scene in Kansas City, Missouri and later Portland, Oregon, Kevin finished his undergraduate studies at Western Oregon University with Kevin Walczyk and Arnold Friedman. He continued there as a graduate student with Keller Coker, and William Whitley. His music has been performed by the Willamette Falls Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mark Perlman in Oregon City, Oregon. He has been in several rock bands and played with and arranged for the Carroll Raaum Swing Orchestra in Portland, Oregon.
Website: www.kevinelmore.com
NAC Projects: Just-So Stories (2014), The Child's Frightful Fantasy (2017)
Born in 1971, Kevin Elmore grew up breathing the music of Beethoven, Handel, and Johnny Cash. Enamored with the idea of a single person on a stool with a guitar, Kevin began playing the guitar at age 8. During high school, Kevin studied with composer and opera coach Christopher Lacy. Existing in the outskirts of the the arts scene in Kansas City, Missouri and later Portland, Oregon, Kevin finished his undergraduate studies at Western Oregon University with Kevin Walczyk and Arnold Friedman. He continued there as a graduate student with Keller Coker, and William Whitley. His music has been performed by the Willamette Falls Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Mark Perlman in Oregon City, Oregon. He has been in several rock bands and played with and arranged for the Carroll Raaum Swing Orchestra in Portland, Oregon.
Website: www.kevinelmore.com
NAC Projects: Just-So Stories (2014), The Child's Frightful Fantasy (2017)
Emily Newman: writer / translator
Emily Newman attended the Washington Academy of Performing Arts and the University of Washington, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature. She taught English in Japan for five years, and currently owns Main Street Books in Monroe, Washington. She plays the folk harp and has a cat named Grantaire.
Website: www.mainstbooksmonroe.com
NAC Projects: The Child's Frightful Fantasy (2017)
Emily Newman attended the Washington Academy of Performing Arts and the University of Washington, where she received a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature. She taught English in Japan for five years, and currently owns Main Street Books in Monroe, Washington. She plays the folk harp and has a cat named Grantaire.
Website: www.mainstbooksmonroe.com
NAC Projects: The Child's Frightful Fantasy (2017)
