Kari Henrik Juusela

Kari Henrik Juusela won first prize in the 2003 NACUSA International Red Stick Composition Competition for Chasing Karma. His work TRUMP!, for flute, clarinet, violin, and cello, was a finalist in the London Chamber Group's 2003 "Piece of the Year" competition; he also received ASCAP Standard Works Awards for 2002 and 2003. Juusela and Nandkishor Muley have been invited to Madrid to perform their co-written compositions Anandkari and Prema Sutra, for santur and cello, with the Madrid Radio Symphony in April of 2004. Juusela and Muley have also been commissioned to compose the music for a German touring production of the Indian epic "Ramayana."

Premieres

Night Calls, for 12 cellos and Tibetan prayer bowl, was first heard at Cellobration 2002, Orlando, FL, as performed by the Stetson University Cello Choir directed by David Bjella, March 17, 2002. At a Stetson University Society of Composers concert Taikuri, for solo flute, was introduced on March 26, 2002. Varjot was premiered by the Jacksonville (FL) Symphony Orchestra, May 23. Tenor Earnie Murphy and pianist Michael Richman presented Four Springs and Another, at the University of South Florida, March 3, 2003. On April 15, Imp was performed by the Stetson University Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Hose, DeLand, FL. TRUMP! for violin, cello, flute, and clarinet, was first performed by the London Chamber Group, London, England, July 13. Prema Sutra for solo cello, santur and orchestra, is scheduled to be premiered by the composers (Juusela, cello, and Nandkishor Muley, santur) with the Madrid Radio Symphony Orchestra, Madrid Spain, April 31, 2004.

Performances

Chasing Karma, for violin and cello, was performed at the FSU Festival of New Music on January 31, 2003, and the DeFuniak Springs Chamber Music Festival in February by violinist Jennifer Dalmas and cellist Evgeni Raytchev. Chasing Karma was also performed at the North American Music Festival on April 24, by Marcoantonio Real-d'Arbelles, violin, and Adrian Teodorescu, cello, and at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Apollo and Daphne, for solo cello, was performed at the Birmingham Art Music Alliance by Craig Hultgren on February 11; at Stetson University, by David Bjella on March 18; and by Deiter Wofhurst at California State University-Fresno, in October. Bliss, for cello quartet, is scheduled to be presented at Georgia State University as part of its NeoPhonia series on February 13, 2004.

Publications

Chasing Karma; Conners Publications.

Further Information

• 2000-2001 American Composers Update
• Kari Henrik Juusela's website at Stetson University