Make Music New York is thrilled to present the commissioned World Premiere of “Street Motets for New York City” by award-winning British composer Pete M. Wyer, written to commemorate the ten year anniversary of their collaborative partnership. The work is a ‘motet’ in the broadest sense — not a religious piece per se, but a meditation and a blessing of good wishes to NYC residents.  

Launching from La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club at 3:20pm, fifty choralists curated by conductor James John will break into smaller enesembles — grouped into sopranos, altos, tenors and basses — and embark on separate routes through the streets of East Village, Greenwich Village and Washington Square Park, all synchronized through the use of guide music played through ear buds on their smartphones. Each pair will intersect with others at various points in their journey to delight bystanders with unexpected bursts of harmony and all singers will converge at Astor Place Plaza at 4:00pm for the program’s dramatic finale.       

Singers from The Queens College Vocal Ensemble Aaron Copeland School of Music, under the direction of conductor James John, warmed up for their Make Music Winter program by performing a related new work by Pete Wyer, “Street Motet #2: Whatever Happens Next,” on December 13 at Lefrak Concert Hall. Check out a video performance of thid World Premiere on YouTube at this link: “Whatever Happens Next.”

Pete M. Wyer is an award winning composer from England committed to experimentation and innovation. He has been recognized for visionary work, receiving numerous commissions from organizations across the UK and USA. Through his creation of Time Structured Mapping and innovations in spatial audio, he is widely regarded as one of the most pioneering composers of his generation.

James John is in his 12th season as Artistic Director of Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble. He is also Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Activities at the Aaron Copland School of Music (ACSM), Queens College-CUNY, where he directs the Queens College Vocal Ensemble and Queens College Choral Society and heads the graduate program in choral conducting.