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ChamberMusic@CSUN: TEMPO Ensemble
September 21 at 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
$10 – $22
TEMPO
The Epicenter Musical Performance Organization
September 21st, 2025 at 7:30 pm Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall, $10 – $22
Xinyuan Deng – Echoes of Silver Rain
Jeffrey Gao – Phantom Choreographies
Ellen Ruth Harrison – Echo of One
Wenbyn Lyu – Galactic Playground
John Mackey – Breakdown Tango
Karim Al-Zand – Duo
ChamberMusic@CSUN is sponsored by the Colburn Foundation and the CSUN Foundation.
Founded in 2008 at California State University, Northridge by Daniel Kessner and Julia Heinen, TEMPO is dedicated to the pursuit, performance, and perseverance of contemporary music. Now entering its 17th season, this ground-breaking ensemble continues to celebrate the rich diversity of our world through bold, imaginative, and compelling musical storytelling.
TEMPO presents an annual Call for Scores, showcasing new voices alongside established contemporary works. Highlights of the 2025–2026 season include a special celebration of co-founder Dan Kessner’s 80th birthday and for this event, performances of works by emerging composers Xinyuan Deng, Jeffrey Gao, Ellen Ruth Harrison, and Wenbyn Lyu. The program also features John Mackey’s Breakdown Tango and Karim Al-Zand’s Duo, with guest artists Michael Matsuno (flute) and new CSUN percussion faculty member, Kana Funayama.
Recognized for artistic excellence, TEMPO was awarded 1st prize at the Doug Davis Performance Grant in 2019 for its performance of Fred Lerdahl’s Time After Time. In 2023, TEMPO premiered a commissioned work by composer David Werfelmann, generously sponsored by Doug Davis.
The ensemble—flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion—brings together CSUN faculty, alumni, and friends, united by a passion for the music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Join TEMPO as it continues to inspire, innovate, and share the vitality of contemporary music with the world.
Ensemble Members
- Michael Matsuno, flutes
- Julia Heinen, clarinets
- Lorenz Gamma, violin, viola
- Nancy Roth, violin, viola
- Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, cello
- Françoise Régnat, piano
- Kana Funayama, percussion
- Glenn Price, conductor
TICKETS: $10 to $22
Can’t attend in Person? View LIVESTREAM
Shigemi Matsumoto Recital Hall (in Cypress Hall)
Suggested Parking via Kiosks, in CSUN Lot B1
