Through our brilliant events and festivals, you’ll experience the vibrance of the Champaign-Urbana area! Discover something new every day!
Note: Fundraisers, sales, meetings related to membership-based groups, political events, and events outside of our coverage area are not included on the calendar.
New Music Festival
Various
Category
Hours
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Launched in 2025, the New Music Festival aims to highlight the rich legacy of contemporary music and composition at the University of Illinois School of Music. Bringing to campus leading voices in new music to collaborate with students, faculty, and the community, the New Music Festival usually spans several days and includes concerts, workshops, presentations and conversations centered around the music of today. The first two iterations of the Festival have brought Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize winners to campus, and going forward aims to highlight both decorated alumni from U of I and residents of the state of Illinois, past and present.
2026 New Music Festival Performances:
Oct. 18 at 7:30pm Concert 1: The Music of Guest Composers Shulamit Ran and Arlene Sierra at Smith Recital Hall. This performance is free and open to the public.
Oct. 19 at 4pm A Discussion and Q & A with Pulitzer Prize winner Shulamit Ran on her life and work at Music and Performing Arts Library. This event is free and open to the public.
Oct. 19 at 7:30pm Concert 2: The Music of Guest Composers Shulamit Ran and Arlene Sierra at Smith Recital Hall. This performance is free and open to the public.
Oct. 20 at 7:30pm Jupiter Quartet with Ben Roidl-Ward, featuring works by Shulamit Ran, Arlene Sierra, and Alban Berg at The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Foellinger Great Hall. Tickets can be purchased from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.