The Dog Star Orchestra, an experimental music ensemble and annual festival, opens its 2024 summer festival—its 20th edition—with a concert titled Converse at Automata in Los Angeles’ Chinatown tonight (June 20).
Converse presents three pieces that focus on connected or interrupted interpersonal communication. Andrew Weathers presents a piece for improvisers responding to asynchronous field recordings; Luke Martin (Music MFA 16) and Noah Ophoven-Baldwin present a cassette recording expression of their mail correspondence; and Georgia Bell presents a new composition for chamber ensemble inspired by verbal conversation.
Dog Star 20 then continues over 10 days with more than 60 artists—many of whom are CalArtians—presenting 11 concerts, as well as films and installations. (All concerts and events are free.)
The festival closes on Sunday, June 30 at CalArts’ The Wild Beast with a “sprawling and joyous evening of large ensemble pieces.” The Orchestra performs pieces by Nicki Chen (Music BFA 22), M Denney (Music MFA 19), John Eagle (Music MFA 13), Josh Gerowitz (Music MFA 10), Kevin Good (Music MFA 18), and Tim Parkinson.
Find individual dates, times, and locations in the events details below.
Dog Star was founded in 2005 by composer Michael Pisaro-Liu, faculty of The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts.
