NEW: JOINT SAXOPHONE CONSORTIUM
Noah Stoker invites you to join a commissioning project for two new works for saxophone and piano by composers Nicole Knorr and Ty Bloomfield. Two pieces will be delivered on September 1, 2025—one for alto saxophone/piano, the other for tenor saxophone/piano—both themed around the sonic and somatic explorations of drawing, and how that can manifest through music.
Knorr's new work, "drawing what you see," is a point of convergence between the discipline of drawing and the discipline of performing—a play on line, texture, and density, and how those concepts translate across mediums. The piece joins soaring lyricism with graphic notation, creating a work that balances
Bloomfield’s new work for tenor saxophone and piano, “cross-hatching”, embodies his favorite sketching technique in a soundscape which uses through meditative patterns, jazzy sub themes, and intense drama.
Consortium Details:
Works: All consortium members will receive two works:
a work for alto saxophone and piano by Nicole Knorr
a work for tenor saxophone and piano by Ty Bloomfield
both works will be approximately 6 minutes at a medium-advanced difficulty and inspired by art
Consortium members will also receive:
• two PDF copies of scores by the composers
name listed in score under "Commissioned by"
one year performance exclusivity
Buy-in: Students: $80; Professionals: $120 paid in two equal installments
Payment 1 is due upon joining, payment 2 is due upon delivery
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Delivery: September 1, 2025
Ty Bloomfield
Composer
Nicole Knorr
Composer
Noah Stoker
Saxophone
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Ty Bloomfield (b. 2000, Chicago) is a composer and conductor whose music is characterized by the unfolding of mysterious narratives, jazzy undertones, intimate and patient soundscapes, and improvised-like melodies. Inspired by the natural world and our day-to-day lives, his work draws from conveying social dynamics such as companionship, love, and community. The recipient of a 2025 Fromm Foundation Fellowship, Ty has worked with ensembles such as JACK Quartet, One Found Sound, and the Cincinnati Song Initiative and has had his music featured at Dublin International Chamber Music Festival, Avaloch Farm Music Institute, and the International Clarinet Association New Music Weekend. He holds degrees in Music Composition from the University of Michigan (M.M.) and Illinois State University (B.M.).
www.tybloomfield.com -
Nicole Knorr (b. 1999) is a composer, performer, and interdisciplinary artist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her work investigates transformation, change, and growth—often through the lens of the natural world. Her music has been described as having “remarkable command of melody” and is characterized by gleaming lyricism, sharp counterpoint, and a fundamental, underlying sense of whimsy. Current creative projects include a commission from NATS and the Cincinnati Song Initiative, a song cycle in collaboration with NeuroArts Productions, and new work for FLYDLPHN and the Michigan Music Teachers’ Association. Nicole earned her M.M. in Music Composition from the University of Michigan, and her B.M. in Voice Performance and Piano Performance from the University of North Florida.
www.nicoleknorr.com -
Noah Stoker is an Ann Arbor-based saxophonist who uses music as a vehicle for building meaningful relationships and storytelling. An advocate for new music, Noah has commissioned and premiered over 25 new works for saxophone, which has led to rewarding collaborations with many young composers across the Midwest. He is a member of the Simian Duo, a contemporary chamber ensemble that shares the same passion for new music. During the summer of 2022, Simian toured the midwest with a program of six newly commissioned works for saxophone duo, saxophone and piano, and saxophone duo with electronics. In recent years, Simian has performed in Stillwater, Oklahoma at the North American Saxophone Alliance biennial conference, and on various recitals championing the music of composer and saxophonist Isaac Boone. Noah is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory and just completed the first year of his graduate studies at the University of Michigan. His primary teachers are Timothy McAllister, Leo Saguiguit, and Zach Shemon.