Queens New Music Festival Kicks Off on Wednesday

When people describe Queens as “diverse,” they usually cite the residents and restaurants. But the borough has varied music as well, as it is a veritable treasure trove of composers, ensembles, and singers.

You can enjoy everything from classical to cutting edge during the fourth annual Queens New Music Festival this week.

The opening act is on May 13, when the youth-heavy Face the Music plays with the string-heavy Kronos Quartet in Forest Hills Gardens. The Astoria-based Lost Dog New Music Ensemble follows on May 14 in Long Island City, with compositions inspired by Alaska.

Six more groups will play over the next three days, culminating with a concert consisting mostly of duets for flute with viola or cello that bridge Eastern and Middle Eastern soundscapes. Here is a schedule:

• May 13: Musica Reginae presents Face the Music with The Kronos Quartet, 7:30 pm.
• May 14, Lost Dog New Music Ensemble presents John Luther Adams: The Light Within, 8 pm.
• May 15, Random Access Music and Iktus Percussion present Realms of Darkness and Light, 8 pm.
• May 16, Eco-Music Big Band: Resistance/Tradition, 3 pm; Giacomo Baldelli & OOOPStudio: NIDRA, 5 pm; and Percussia: Twang & Bang: Music for Harps and Lots of Percussion, 8 pm.
• May 17, Ensemble 365: Eastern Currents: Contemporary Music of Asia, 3 pm; and ISSA Sonus ensemble: DVIRAAG, 5 pm.

Details: The May 13 concert will take place at The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills Gardens. All the other concerts will happen at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City.

Tickets: All-access festival passes are $60; Saturday or Sunday one-day passes are $30; single tickets for individual performances are $20, except for the kickoff at Church-in-the-Gardens, where tickets will be sold only in advance (no door sales) for $25.

More details: Index. Tables. an interactive visual and sound installation by Fan Letters, will occur at the Secret Theatre, May 14-17.

Even more details: The Lost Dog concert is part of the American Composers Forum’s National Composer Night Out. A celebration will follow the concert at The Beast Next Door, 42-51 27th Street, Long Island City, 10 pm.  

Photo by The Kronos Quartet