Kari Besharse

Events

Upcoming Performances & Activities:

  • Drifters for saxophone quartet written for Quartetto Obrigado will be premiered in Spring 2026

Recent Performances & Activities:

2025

  • Palus was performed by Quince in Red Cloud, Minnesota on October 12th
  • Palus was performed at New Music on the Point on June 13th
  • Gorgon’s Head for voice and objects was performed at CAMPground25 on March 13 by Jamie Jordan
  • I gave a lecture/demonstration on rose, aluminum, and steel for electric guitar, metal objects, and electronics (in progress) on March 8 at the LSU Creative Guitar Symposium
  • Neonympha dorothea was performed by Fidan Aghayeva-Edler on March 7 at Tulane University’s Dixon Recital Hall on a concert sponsored by nienteForte.
  • The Halo Fragments for bass flute, by Roberta Michel on February 1, 2025 at Tulane University Dixon Recital Hall
  • rose circles… and aluminum for harpsichord, alto flute, viola, and cello was premiered by Versipel New Music and Takae Ohnishi on January 31, 2025 at Tulane University Dixon Recital Hall

2024

  • Palus for vocal trio was performed by Trio Generator on 21.11.2024 at Acker Stadt Palast, Berlin, Germany
  • Neonympha dorothea, was premiered by Fidan Aghayeva-Edler on her 24-hour piano marathon featuring the works of women composers on Saturday, August 31, 2024 to Sunday, September 1, 2024 at St. Elizabeth, Berlin.
  • Flight and Song (Exozoology I), was performed at New Music on the Bayou, 7pm June 5th, at the Dixie Center, Ruston, Louisiana.
  • Flight and Song (Exozoology I), was performed by Versipel New Music, March 26, 2024 at the New Marigny Theater, New Orleans.

2023

  • Panelist, “Art and Nature”, Louisiana Master Naturalist Gathering, December 1, 2023 at Bogue Chitto State Park.
  • Presentation of my Electronic Music, History of Electronic Music, Tulane University, December 5, 2023
  • Flight and Song (Exozoology I), commissioned by the Louisiana MTA for piano quartet premiered October 6, 2023 at the Louisiana Music Teacher’s Association conference at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
  • Palus for vocal trio was performed by Accordant Commons on July 2 at The Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church (Pasadena, CA)
  • Gorgon’s Head for voice and objects was performed at the New Music on the Bayou Festival on Thurs, Jun 1, 1p | Monroe, LA by Megan Ihnen
  • Small Things (2-channel electroacoustic music) will be played on Birdfoot Festival’s Late Night Show: Sonic Geography on March 16, 2023 https://birdfootfestival.org/concerts-events/2023-birdfoot-festival/birdfoot-late-night-sonic-geography/
  • Cicadas Sing of Summer Fading, February 8, 2023, Loadbang at New Music Miami Festival at Florida International University (South Beach, FL)
  • Gorgon’s Head for voice and objects was performed at Outpost Coffee Concert No. 1 at the Lakeville Arts Center in Minnesota by Carrie Shaw

2022

  • Rising Water Sinking Land for Astralis Duo, November 10, 2022 at Hotel Peter and Paul, New Orleans
  • Rising Water Sinking Land for Astralis Duo was premiered November 9, 2022 at Myra Clare Rogers Memorial Chapel at Tulane University [world premiere]
  • Seeping Calm for string quartet, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Music at the Museum, November 2, 2022 at Jazz Market, New Orleans [world premiere]
  • Gorgon’s Head for soprano and objects was performed by Carrie Shaw on Outpost at The Hook and Ladder Theater, Minneapolis, MN
  • Gorgon’s Head for soprano Carrie Shaw premiered on Faculty Recital: Carrie Shaw, soprano: Default Mode Network – January 29, 2022 – 7:30pm [world premiere]

2020

2019

  • everyone…everything for Figmentum premiered at 7:30 PM February 15, 2019 at Bread and Salt in San Diego, CA
  • Embers was performed by by Richard Schwartz, saxophone and Philip Schuessler, piano on the Oklahoma Embers Tour:
    • 7:00 PM Tuesday, February 26 at Oklahoma University
    • 7:00 PM Wednesday, February 27 at University of Central Oklahoma
    • 7:00 PM Friday, March 1 at Oklahoma State University
  • Feathers was performed by Southeastern Louisiana University’s Contemporary Ensemble 7:30 PM Tuesday, March 19
  • everyone…everything for Figmentum was performed at the Music by Women Festival 10:00 AM March 8, 2019 at Mississippi University for Women
  • Palus was performed by Quince, April 28 in Omaha, Nebraska
  • Palus was performed by Accordant Commons, June 1 on Noon to Midnight at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
  • The Inhibitors was performed on the New Music on the Bayou Festival June 6-8 in Monroe, Louisiana

2018

  • The Anemone Fragments for cello and electronics was performed by Craig Hultgren at the Front Gallery in New Orleans October 14, 2018
  • Blooms and Feathers were performed by the Versipel Collective on June 4 on Instant Opus @Hi-Ho Lounge, New Orleans
  • Blooms, commissioned by Versipel New Music premiered on May 11 @7:30 at the Southern Sonic Festival at the Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans.As part of the
  • Panel discussion on Women and Gender Non-Conforming Artists in Contemporary Experimental Music and Sound Art atSouthern Sonic Festival on May 10 @7pm
  • Embers was performed at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music March 11 by Richard Schwartz, saxophone and Philip Schuessler, piano.

2017

  • Black Grey Red Orange Grey Blue Grey was performed on the soundOn Festival of Contemporary Music, Sunday, January 8 @2 p.m. @ The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St, La Jolla, CA
  • Songs of Summer Fading was premiered by Loadbang
    • February 14, 2017, 7:30 p.m., Southeastern Louisiana University, Pottle Auditorium
    • February 15, 2017, 8 p.m., Versipel Visiting Artist Series, Location TBA

2016

  • Palus was performed by Accordant Commons October 17, 2016 @ California State University Long Beach
  • Music Box for Iktus Combo was premiered February 2016
    • February 16, 2016, 7:30 p.m., Southeastern Louisiana University, Pottle Auditorium
    • February 17, 2016, 8:00 p.m., Versipel New Music Visiting Artist Series, Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans
  •  Palus a microtonal vocal trio written for Accordant Commons was premiered March 2016
    • March 10, 2016 7:30 p.m., San Diego New Music presents Accordant Commons, The Athenaeum Art Center at Bread and Salt, 1955 Julian Ave.
      San Diego 92113
    • March 18, 2016, 8 p.m. Automata, Los Angeles
  • Electric Monster and the Invasion of the Incredible B.S.O.s Improv was performed by The Versipel Collective on the Open Ears Series, January 19 at Blue Nile

2015

  • The Anemone Fragments was selected for performance at ICMC, September 25-October 1 at the University of North Texas. Concert 15, Lyric Theater, 4:30pm
  • Embers for saxophone and piano was performed several times by Richard Schwartz and Philip Schuessler on the Western leg of the “Embers CD Release Tour.” Tour stops in New Mexico and Texas – September 2015
    • September 8, New Mexico State University, Atkinson Hall, 7:30pm
    • September 9, Eastern New Mexico University, 7pm
    • September 10, Texas Tech University, 5pm
    • September 11, University of New Mexico, 7:30pm
    • September 12, Santa Fe Preparatory High School, 2pm
  • Omphalos was performed at the 2015 New York City Electronic Music Festival, Abrons Art Center, New York, June 27, 1pm.
  • Omphalos, Southeastern Louisiana University Composers Concert, Recital Hall, April 27.
  • The Inhibitors for pianist Mabel Kwan was premiered in April.
  • April 1, 2015, Pottle Auditorium, Southeastern Louisiana University, 7:30.
  • April 3, 2015, Versipel New Music Visiting Artist Series III, Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans, 8:00.
  • Seeping Peace will be presented on 60×60 Dance Louisiana Mix at Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts Friday, April 10th at 7pm, Saturday April 11th at 4pm and 7pm.

2014

  • Embers for saxophone and piano was performed several times by Richard Schwartz and Philip Schuessler on the Southern leg of the “Embers CD Release Tour”
    • September 2nd – Pottle Auditorium, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA @ 7:30 pm
    • September 3rd – Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA @ 7:30 pm
    • September 4th – University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS @ 7:30 pm
    • September 5th – University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL @ 2pm
    • September 6th – Birmingham-Southern College, Birmingham, AL @ 7:30 pm
  • “Reconsidering Texture in French Spectral Music” was be presented at “Gérard Grisey, the spectral moment, and its legacy,” October 19 to 21 at McGill and the Université de Montréal.
  • Omphalos will be performed a the LSU Cinema for the Ears concert series on their new 27-speaker ICAST diffusion system in the new LDMC theater!!! April 7 @ 7:30.
  • Astralis Duo performed Four Songs on their Louisiana Tour as part of their “Life and Afterlife” show.
  • Monday, March 31st, 2014 at 6:00 PM, Tulane University Newcomb Department of Music, Dixon Recital Hall (Rm. 152), Dixon Annex
  • Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 at 6:00PM, Southeastern Louisiana University, Department of Fine and Performing Arts, Pottle Auditorium
  • January 5 – 20, 2014 Banff Centre Residency

2013

  • Gryllidae, a miniature for orchestra will be included in 60×60 Orchestra, sponsored by Vox Novus
  • Summer 2013, Embers was recorded by saxophonist Richard Schwartz and will be included on his CD of new saxophone works
  • May 1, 2013, On a Wire, 60×60 Video EMM (Electronic Music Midwest) Mix Brown, 100 Theater, Brown Hall Washington University, St. Louis
  • May 29, 2013, The Anemone Fragments for cello and live electronics performed by Craig Hultgren, 7:30 PM, Moonlight on the Mountain, Birmingham, AL

2012

  • October 31, 2012, world premiere of The Anemone Fragments for cello and live electronics for cellist Craig Hultgren, Southeastern Louisiana University Recital Hall, Hammond, Louisiana
  • August 23, 2012, Embers, Tuscaloosa New Music Collective presents Young American Composers, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL,  Philip Schuessler, piano; Richard Schwartz, saxophone (Embers was selected as an honorable mention in the 2012 TNMC Call for Scores)
  • May 1, 2012 – Seeping Peace, Oklahoma Composer’s Association Salon Concerts, 60×60 Video (Athena Mix) at Cameron University, School of Music, Lawton, Oklahoma
  • April 30, 2012 – Dissolution, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dylan Chmura-Moore trombone and electronics
  • April 23, 2012 – Dissolution, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, Dylan Chmura-Moore trombone and electronics
  • April 22, 2012 – Dissolution, Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music, Berea, Ohio, Dylan Chmura-Moore trombone and electronics
  • February 7, Dissolution for trombone and electronics, “A Prelude to SEAMUS,” Allen Priebe Gallery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Dylan Chmura-Moore, trombone

2011

  • July 10-17 – Mizzou New Music Summer Festival, premiere of new work for Alarm Will Sound
  • March 18-19, 2011Embers,  premiere by Richard Schwartz, saxophone and Philip Schuessler, piano at North American Saxophone Association Conference, Florida
  • March 25-26, 2011 – Ear to the Ground, College Music Society, Rocky Mountain Regional Conference, Denver, Colorado

2010

  • November 17, 2010Dissolution for trombone and electronics, University of Wisconsin OshKosh, Dylan Chmura-Moore trombone and electronics
  • November 19, 2010Ear to the Ground,  Southeastern Louisiana University Electronic Music Concert
  • October 2, 2010 – Omphalos, SCI Region V Conference, Augustana College, Moline, IL
  • August 2 – 16 – I-Park Residency
    • Composition of Rivers Project #1 for classical guitar, live electronics, and video
  • July 4-12 – Etchings Festival, Auvillar, France
    • Premiere of Luminous Flux for alto saxophone, bassoon, violin, viola, and cello by members of the East Coast Contemporary Ensemble
  • June 1-5 – International Computer Music Conference, New York & Stony Brook, New York
    • Small Things and On a Wire
  • May 27 On a Wire – 60×60 Burgundy Mix, São Paulo Ibrasotope (www.myspace.com/ibrasotope).
  • May 20On a Wire – 60×60 Burgundy Mix, University of Wisconsin-Richland, Richland Center, Wisconsin
  • May 14On a Wire – 60×60 Burgundy Mix, Composers Concordance Presents 60×60 (2010 / ICMC Burgundy Mix)  Parkside Lounge, New York City
  • May 12On a Wire – 60×60 Burgundy Mix, City University in London, London, England
  • May 7 On a Wire – 60×60 Burgundy Mix, Outpost 186 Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • May 4, 2010Electric Monster and the Invasion of the Incredible B.S.O.s, University of Illinois New Music Ensemble, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Tryon Festival Theater, Urbana, IL ***world premiere***
  • March 9, 2010 – Firmament, New Music Café, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL