Music faculty member has new work premiered at Kennedy Center

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Baljinder Sekhon, assistant professor of composition in the School of Music, premiered his new work, “into emptiness,” for saxophone, flute, voice and electronics, at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage on Aug. 25. Douglas O’Connor (saxophone), Kenneth Cox (flute), Laurel Irene (voice) and Sekhon (electronics) performed the piece.

The concert was an evening of world premieres with works commissioned from five composers: Sekhon, Robert Morris, Osnat Netzer, Jeffrey Mumford and Robert Hasegawa.

Sekhon joined the School of Music faculty in fall 2019. His music has been presented in more than 500 concerts in 20 countries. From works for large ensemble to solo works to electronic music, Sekhon demonstrates a wide range of genres and styles. 

In addition to the premiere of his new work at the Kennedy Center, he recently premiered a double concerto for oboe, bassoon and orchestra at the International Double Reed Society (IDRS) Conference and a new orchestral work, "STARS," which was premiered by the Florida Orchestra (Michael Francis, director) during the Florida Orchestra’s Masterworks Series Concerts.

Before coming to Penn State, Sekhon taught composition and electronic music at the University of South Florida, where he received a 2017 Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher award. He holds doctoral and master of arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he is a three-time recipient of the Howard Hanson Orchestral Prize, and holds a bachelor of music from the University of South Carolina. For more information, visit Sekhon’s website at http://www.SekhonMusic.com.