“New Music Ambassadors to the World” - A Biography of the California E.A.R. Unit

Aug 25, 2026

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A dissertation examining the California E.A.R. Unit as a contemporary music ensemble and cultural actor, tracing its formation, professional engagements, and evolving artistic missions across key Los Angeles institutional contexts. The research follows ensemble development at CalArts, long-term residency structures connected to LACMA, and interdisciplinary collaborations that shaped music “in motion,” culminating in performances and transformations associated with REDCAT. Methods and sources support a narrative biography that links organizational histories to repertoire, performance practice, and public outreach.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages231

Reading Time9 h 42 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The contemporary music ensemble in the United States

Histories of contemporary music in Los Angeles

The California Institute of the Arts

Methods and sources

Chapters

Chapter 1 - Ensemble Formation and Professional Engagements at CalArts (1980-1987)

Graduate student years

Post-graduation work at CalArts

Conclusions

Chapter 2 - LACMA: Monday Evening Concerts and Ensemble Residency (1984-2005)

Monday Evening Concerts

Ensemble Residency Series at LACMA

LACMA ends contemporary music programs

Programming meetings and operations

Conclusions

Chapter 3 - Interdisciplinary Collaborations for Music in Motion (1993-1998)

Music in Motion

1993-1994: Eve Beglarian and Bernardo Feldman

1994-1995: Paul Dresher and Annea Lockwood

1995-1996: Jack Vees

1997-1998: Rand Steiger

Conclusions

Chapter 4 - Final Transformations at Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT (2005-2012)

Personal losses, new repertoire, and performances at REDCAT

The California E.A.R. Unit Trio: 2010-2012

Conclusions

Coming together as the

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO “New Music Ambassadors to the World”: A Biography of the California E.A.R. Unit A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music Performance by Michael Kento Matsuno Committee in charge: Professor Anthony Burr, Co-Chair Professor Jann Pasler, Co-Chair Professor Erik Carlson Professor Leanne Chukoskie Professor Sarah Creel Professor John Fonville Copyright Michael Kento Matsuno, 2024 All rights reserved. The Dissertation of Michael Kento Matsuno is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm and electronically. University of California San Diego 2024 TABLE OF CONTENTS Dissertation Approval Page ............................................................................................... iii Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. iv [List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vi](List of Figures ................................................................................................................... vi) [Acknowledgements ...............................](Acknowledgements ...............................).......................................................................... viii Vita .................................................................................................................................... ix Abstract of the Dissertation ............................................................................................... x Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 0.1 The contemporary music ensemble in the United States .................................. 4 0.2 Histories of contemporary music in Los Angeles ............................................. 8 0.3 The California Institute of the Arts ................................................................. 14 0.4 Methods and sources ....................................................................................... 17 0.5 Chapters .......................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 1 Ensemble Formation and Professional Engagements at CalArts (1980-1987) ......... 27 1.1 Graduate student years .................................................................................... 28 1.1.1 The Twentieth Century Players ....................................................... 33 1.1.2 CalArts Contemporary Music Festivals ........................................... 39 1.1.3 The American Dance Festival .......................................................... 47 1.1.4 Cafeteria meetings and becoming a unit .......................................... 49 1.1.5 The Holland Festival ........................................................................ 55 1.2 Post-graduation work at CalArts..................................................................... 60 1.2.1 The Olympic Arts Festival ............................................................... 65 1.2.2 More Los Angeles contemporary music festivals............................ 73 1.2.3 Leaving CalArts ............................................................................... 77 1.3 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 80 Chapter 2 LACMA: Monday Evening Concerts and Ensemble Residency (1984-2005) .......... 84 2.1 Monday Evening Concerts.............................................................................. 85 2.1.1 Frank Zappa, While You Were Art ................................................... 90 2.2 Ensemble Residency Series

FAQs

What subject does the dissertation focus on?

The dissertation focuses on the California E.A.R. Unit and presents it as a contemporary music ensemble through a biography tracing its formation and artistic development.

How does the research structure the ensemble’s history?

It is organized across major institutional and time periods, including CalArts (1980-1987), LACMA (1984-2005), interdisciplinary collaborations (1993-1998), and REDCAT (2005-2012).

Which Los Angeles institutions are central to the narrative?

Key contexts include the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), LACMA, and Walt Disney Concert Hall’s REDCAT, each tied to specific chapters and activities.

Aug 25, 2026

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