Vanguard Ensemble to Perform "Music for 18 Musicians"
Published: March 06, 2026 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 3 minutes
The Vanguard New Music Ensemble at Southern Utah University will present a rare live performance of Music for 18 Musicians by acclaimed composer Steve Reich on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the Thorley Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.
Considered one of the most important works of contemporary chamber music, Music for 18 Musicians is a mesmerizing, hour-long composition performed continuously without pause. Built around a cycle of 11 chords, the piece evolves gradually as musical patterns shift and transform, creating a richly layered soundscape that invites listeners into a deeply immersive experience.
“Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians is considered one of the greatest pieces of chamber music ever written,” said Vanguard’s director Joseph Howe. “All 18 musicians perform without a conductor, following one another and listening for cues led by the clarinet and vibraphone. This musical work is unlike any other piece you’ve experienced. You’ll be immersed in the sound as it takes you on a journey.”
The performance requires extraordinary coordination among the musicians. Without a conductor, performers rely on careful listening and subtle cues from one another to guide the ensemble through the evolving patterns that define Reich’s minimalist style.
The Vanguard New Music Ensemble is dedicated to the immersive study of contemporary avant-garde music, giving students the opportunity to explore innovative performance and composition techniques. Reflecting the unique instrumentation required for Reich’s work, the ensemble features an unusual combination of instruments, including keyboard percussion, clarinet, violin, cello, female voices, pianos, and even maracas.
Students in the ensemble have been preparing the piece since the beginning of the fall semester, carefully building the precision, ensemble awareness, and teamwork needed to bring the complex work to life.
“I’m excited to be coaching this piece—and that it’s happening—because it isn’t performed very often,” Howe said.
Because of the work’s scale and demands, live performances of Music for 18 Musicians are relatively rare, making the concert a special opportunity for audiences in southern Utah to experience one of the landmark compositions of the 20th century performed live.
The March 29th concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Thorley Recital Hall on SUU’s campus. Admission is free, and community members are encouraged to attend and experience this remarkable musical journey with an open mind.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs, including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Contact Information
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu