2025 Events

March 5, 2025
premiere of the original version of wild woods

performance of the original version of Roger Zahab's Wild Woods for solo flute and wind ensemble with the Otterbein University Wind Ensemble and director Michael Yonchak, DMA in Westerville, Ohio on Wednesday, March 5th at 7:30 PM!
(yes - it exists in multiple universes)
Lindsey Goodman, solo flutist
Otterbein University Wind Ensemble
Michael Yonchak, director

Otterbein University
Westerville, OH

2024 Events

November 17, 2024
the winter fires at CMU

the winter fires

to be performed by the

Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Ensemble
November 17th, 2024, at 4 pm

Kresge Recital Hall

October 9, 2024
premiere (finally) of Roger's Summer (1997-2024)

University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer
Roger Zahab - Summer (1997-2024) premiere

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
University of Pittsburgh Oakland campus
free admission

September 1, 2024
New Gardens for clavichord

performed by Francis Knights

Cambridge, UK

April 28, 2024
Roger's arrangement of Julia Perry's Prelude for Strings at Cleveland's Severance Hall

performed by the
Cleveland Women's Orchestra
Eric Benjamin, conducting

Severance Hall
Cleveland, Ohio

April 17, 2024
University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Wednesday at 8 pm

Ludwig van Beethoven - Egmont Overture
Julia Perry - Prelude for strings
conducted by Naama Perel-Tzadok

Juwon Adenuga - Afehyiapa (first performance)

Julia Perry - Concerto no. 2 for Piano in Two Uninterrupted Speeds (1964-69) (U.S. premiere)
with Robert Frankenberry, piano

Claude Debussy La Mer - Trois esquisses symphoniques

conducted by Roger Zahab

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
University of Pittsburgh

March 17, 2024
wild woods - new flute concerto for Lindsey Goodman

March 17th 2024 will bring the premiere of my new concerto for extraordinary flautist Lindsey Goodman in collaboration with the Ashland University Band and its conductor Joseph Lewis.

Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

March 8, 2024
Julia Perry's Prelude for strings performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Roger's arrangement of Julia Perry's Prelude for strings will be performed by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in Ordway Concert Hall on March 8, 9, 10, and at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Apple Valley 12, 2024

Ordway Concert Hall, Downtown St. Paul MN
345 Washington Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102
and
Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church
12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road
Apple Valley, MN 55124

March 4, 2024
Roger performs Lou Harrison's Sonata for Unaccompanied Violin

University of Pittsburgh Music Department presents
Music performance showcase

Lou Harrison-Sonata for Unaccompanied Violin, op. 7 (1936)
Roger Zahab, violin*


Freddie Hubbard-Red Clay
Jerome Kern-All the Things You Are
Harry Warren-There Will Never Be Another You
Roy Hargrove-Strasbourg / St. Denis
Theo DiBiasi, trumpet
Michael Levin, tenor saxophone
Ashwin Dukkipati, guitar
William Lee, piano
Michael Sullivan, bass
Matt Woodhouse, drums


Josquin des Prez-Cela sans plus
Hayne van Ghizeghem (c1445-1477), arr. Josquin des Prez - De tous biens plaine
Archisha Kancha, violin
Roger Zahab, viola*
Sarah Laus, cello
* faculty artist

Monday at 8 pm
Bellefield Hall Auditorium

February 21, 2024
The University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Wednesday at 8 pm

Johann Sebastian Bach - Concerto IV in G "Brandenburg" BWV. 1049
Daniel Cheng, solo violin,
Karinna Martin, Victoria Ding, solo flutes
Sean Consigli, Isaiah Hollinger violini 1 e 2 in ripieno
Celia Hoffman, viola
Sangita Das-Quigley, cello
JP Tomlinson, bass
Rob Frankenberry, cembalo

William Grant Still - Wood Notes (1947)

Naama Perel-Tzadok - Atari (2017)
Naama Perel-Tzadok, conducting

Witold Lutoslawski - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra (1970)
David Russell, cello
Roger Zahab, conductor

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
University of Pittsburgh

February 11, 2024
Circular Dancing in Alliance, Ohio

Roger's Circular Dancing is given another whirl by the Alliance Symphony Orchestra and it's director Eric Benjamin on Sunday February 11th at 3 pm.

Brush Performance Hall of the
Giese Center for the Performing Arts
Alliance Ohio

January 22, 2024
Twilight into Evening - Songs and Spells by Gilda Lyons and Roger Zahab

Monday at 8 pm

With guest artists
Robert Frankenberry, voice, and Benjamin Binder, piano

and Roger Zahab, violin and viola

Program

Gilda Lyons:
Owl-Light (2004)
Between Dog and Wolf (2010) for violin
Charms and Blessings (2006) for voice and viola
(texts by Francesca Speranza Wilde)

Roger Zahab:
the summer waves (2023)
Another Fall (1998)/falling lines (2006)
Evening Out (2008)
(texts by Roger Zahab)

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
Free admission

January 8, 2024
Roger and Rob premiere the summer waves

Vermont College of Fine Arts presents
Compervisor showcase
at 7 pm

along with music from
Steve Owens, Benjamin Zervigon, Andy Jaffe
Alex Kirkpatrick, Ben Kaye-Skinner, Brandon Lopez
Tomas Campbell, Lisa Mezzacappa, Ken Topham
Colin Hinton, Ingrid Laubrock, and Carla Kihlstedt

Stretansky Hall,
Susquehanna University

2023 Events

December 6, 2023
University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Roger Zahab, director

Wednesday at 8 pm

Lost Waltz (1997) Elizabeth Brown

Cello Concerto in e minor, op. 85 (1919) Edward Elgar
I. Adagio - Moderato
Hannah Neiderhiser, cello

Final projects from the Instrumentation/Orchestration class
Ben 10 opening theme Andy Sturmer arr. Dylan LeCroy
Walking Through Warm Rain - conducted by the composer Alec Cassidy
For or Against - conducted by the composer Ethan Zajac-Woodie
When Buildings Fell Marie Southall
Lovers in Sunlight (The Kiss) Freya Norwood

Sixth Symphony in B minor ("Pathetique"), op. 74(1893) Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
In memory of Ben Franks-Meinert

University of Pittsburgh
Bellefield Hall Auditorium

December 4, 2023
David Del Tredici - The Last Violin

Roger and Rob Frankenberry perform in memory of our beloved friend David Del Tredici
on the Music performance showcase

The Last Violin (2013) - David Del Tredici

Roger Zahab, violin*
Robert Frankenberry, piano +

Roger also joins in on performances of

Orlando Gibbons Fantasia VI with violinist Kathryn Buck,

Jeffrey Quick's Trio for Violin, Alto Saxophone and Piano (2007)
with Luke Brennfleck, alto saxophone and Seyi Ajibade, piano

and Rob Wendt's Violin Duos (2021)
with Daniel Cheng

also included:
works by J. A. K. Colizzi, Carl Maria von Weber, Cecile Chaminade , and Susan K. Powell
performed by Zoe Walsh, piano, Charlie Walsh, piano, Katelyn Chen, violin, Kristian Swann, cello, Rebecca Schaaf, piano
and Paul Brienza, Jacob Doran, David Weisfield, Amy Stubbs*, percussionists

University of Pittsburgh Music Department presents
Music performance showcase
Monday at 8 pm
Bellefield Hall Auditorium

November 13, 2023
Mamlok and Eastman - University of Pittsburgh Music Department presents Music performance showcase

Joseph Kuffner - Trio for 3 Flutes, opus 34
Rachel Lau, Ellen Kurr, Shirin Kaye, flutes

Alessandro Scarlatti - Gia il sole dal Gange
Kaitlyn Clougherty, voice & Lorraine Milovac, piano

Georg Philipp Telemann - Sonata in G Major
Ella Battistelli, flute & Lydia Freethy, piano

Ursula Mamlok - From My Garden (1983)
Roger Zahab, violin

Julius Zen Eastman - Piano 2 (1986)
Donna Amato, piano

Monday at 8 pm
Bellefield Hall Auditorium

November 12, 2023
Circular Dancing with the Akron Youth Symphony

Roger Zahab's Circular Dancing performed by the Akron Youth Symphony
Sunday at 3 pm

Guzzetta Hall
University of Akron
Akron OH

November 5, 2023
Sounds Upstairs at the Carnegie Library Pittsburgh

Sounds Upstairs/Violins of Hope
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Nov 5 at Main, South Wing Music Room, 2:00-3:00 pm

Violinist Roger Zahab is planning a program that features composers he's had a personal connection with and music that is emblematic of aspects of resilience and hope in their lives. This event takes place on the 2nd floor.


Roger Zahab, violin
Robert Frankenberry, piano


Selections from
Serenade in A major for violin and piano Alexander von Zemlinsky
Melodie from Orfeo C W von Gluck arr.Fritz Kreisler
Sonata (1927) Erwin Schulhoff
Short Story George Gershwin
From My Garden (1983) Ursula Mamlok
Two Ballads for violin and piano (1957) Aaron Copland
Santa Fe Salsa David Stock
afterimage (2005) Roger Zahab

CLP Oakland
Pittsburgh
Nov 5 at Main, South Wing Music Room,

October 30, 2023
University of Pittsburgh Music Department presents Music performance showcase

Liebestraum no. 3 in A flat major Franz Liszt - Lydia Freethy, piano

String trio in b flat, D 471 (1816) Franz Schubert - Amelia Morrison, violin, Roger Zahab, viola*, Gia Shin, cello

Ballade (for Eric Reiss) Op.17 Robert Schultz - Oleksii Kucherenko, piano

Poeme Pastorale Rene de Boisdeffre - Katelyn Chen, violin, Kristian Swann, cello, Rebecca Schaaf, piano

meggie's (2005) Roger Zahab
Rondeau - in honor of Fragonard (from Varied Trio, 1987) Lou Harrison
Zipu Wang, violin and Roger Zahab, violin*, piano

Cinq Pieces en Trio Jacques Ibert - Ella Battistelli, flute, Katrina Rakusan, clarinet, Alex Vuckovich, alto saxophone

* faculty artist

Monday at 8 pm
Bellefield Hall Auditorium
free admission

October 26, 2023
Circular Dancing returns to Akron

The University of Akron Symphony Orchestra, Eric Benjamin, director will perform roger's Circular Dancing at 7:30 pm
This concert is free and open to the public.

The original version of this piece was first performed in the same building (across the lobby in Sandefur Theater) in 1995 as part of the incidental music for Gertrude Stein's A Circular Play directed by James Slowiak.

Guzzetta Recital Hall
University of Akron
157 University Ave
Akron, OH 44325

October 11, 2023
Roger conducts Bernstein, Childs, Mozart and Gerhard

University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Roger Zahab conductor

Overture to "Candide" (1956) Leonard Bernstein

Memory, Love & Loss (2022) Dirje Childs

Andrew Levin & Timmy Green, trumpet
Niobe Tsoutsouris, horn
Sam Jensen-King, trombone
Joshua Branstetter, bass trombone


Concerto no. 3 in E flat Major for Horn and Orchestra, K. 447 (1783) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Megumi Barclay, French horn



Dances from "Don Quixote" (1940-41) Roberto Gerhard

Roger Zahab, conductor

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
University of Pittsburgh
Oakland Campus
this concert is free and open to the public

October 1, 2023
Sounds Upstairs: Jay Arms, solo guitar - Roger's Fall/Return

Pittsburgh based guitarist Jay Arms presents a program of contemporary works for solo guitar, including compositions by Alex Dea, Mesut Oezgen, Larry Polansky, and Pittsburgh based composers David Mahler and Roger Zahab. The selected works span musical styles drawing from Turkish, South Indian, and Javanese traditional music, ragtime, and American experimental music.

Sunday at 2 pm
Free to the People

Carnegie Public Library
CLP-Main (Oakland)
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

July 25, 2023
river walk premiere

Vermont College of Fine Arts
Composer/Improviser/Performer (Comperviser) Showcase
Roger Zahab - river walk (premiere)
Carla Kihlstedt and Roger Zahab, violins

Packard Performance Hall
Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO
Monday at 7:30 pm

June 30, 2023
NAT 28 performs After Midnight

NAT 28 presents The Willed and the Wild
Friday June 30th 2023 at 7:30 PM
Celebrate Pride Month with NAT 28 as we showcase new music by LGBTQ+ composers from Pittsburgh and beyond! We are thrilled to present works by Roger Zahab, Eve Beglarian, inti figgis-vizueta, and a world premiere by Alex Marthaler. Join us as we honor our city's queer community by doing what we know best - celebrating and sharing new music with you!

The program will feature:
"Waiting for Billy Floyd" - Eve Beglarian (NYC/Vermont)
"After Midnight" - Roger Zahab (Pittsburgh, PA)
"Openwork, knotted object ..." - inti figgis-vizueta (NYC)
World Premiere - Alex Marthaler (Pittsburgh, PA)

Tickets are available in advance or at the door. Seating for this event is limited, so we recommend reserving tickets as soon as possible. Admission is free of charge, but we are graciously accepting donations at the concert and online at www.nat28.org/give anytime.

Irma Freeman Center for Imagination
5006 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15224

April 19, 2023
University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Roger Zahab, director
Emmanuel Berrido, assistant conductor

Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Soundtrack Suite (Episode VII) John Williams
Emmanuel Berrido, conductor

Manon Lescaut -Act 2: Intermezzo - Giacomo Puccini
Tosca : aria Recondita armonia - Giacomo Puccini
Robert Frankenberry, tenor

The Land Vaguely Waving (2012)-Kerrith Livengood
Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 43 (1902) -Jean Sibelius
Roger Zahab, conductor

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
University of Pittsburgh
Oakland Campus

March 26, 2023
Vincenzo Volpe & Chiaoyu Lin perform ...some measures for living

"Flute Music for Remembrance and Healing: Uncovering the Commissioned Works of the National Flute Association's 'AIDS Memorial Concert' Series"
Sunday, March 26 at 1:00pm EST

Vincenzo Volpe, flute
Cristian Dias, viola
Chiaoyu Lin, piano
Anne Leutkenhaus, flute

PROGRAM
Short Suite for flute and dancer by Paul Ferguson (b. 1958)

Sonata for flute and piano by Paul Basler (b. 1963)

All the Words to All the Songs by Dan Welcher (b. 1948)

Lux Aeterna by William Ferris (1937-2000)

Canticle by Randall Snyder

some measures for living by Roger Zahab

Phoenix by Robert Maggio

Watson Recital Hall, CCM
Cincinnati, OH

March 24, 2023
Concert in Support of Trans Rights

program includes Roger performing his
exempli gratia &
Twelve Pages for string quartet with Alex Preble, Thomas Scheurich and Alex Johnson
along with performances/works by
Aaron Myers-Brooks, electric guitar
Devon Tipp, shakuhachi
Fool's Fire (2020) John Paul Labno
Roger Zahab, violin
Robert Frankenberry, piano
A Partially Different Rag (2016) David Mahler
Kootenay Reflections (2008) Alex Dea
Jay Arms, guitar
& A Warm Hello From The Alien Ant Farm Eric Moe
Ant!
Rob Frankenberry, voice
Eric Moe, piano
The Cresset Stone (1993) Hilary Tann
Scylla and Charybdis David Del Tredici
Robert Frankenberry, piano
John Bagnato
Yoko Suzuki
The Jakarta Method Rizky Sasono

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
6 pm

March 8, 2023
Cage, Feldman, Wyanski and Zahab

works by John Cage, Morton Feldman, Aaron Wyanski and Roger Zahab
performed by Roger Zahab, violin & Aaron Wyanski, piano
at 7 pm, free and open to the public

University of Maine Farmington
Farmington, Maine

February 27, 2023
pinehurst - premiere

Music performance showcase


pinehurst (2022, first performance) Roger Zahab

He Shook With Racing Notes the Standing Air (1998) Andrew Kohn

Roger Zahab, violin*


light drifts down (2023, first performance) John Paul Labno

Jennifer Sternick+ & Roger Zahab, violins


Quartet in G, op. 76, no 1 Hoboken III: 75 Joseph Haydn


Alex Preble & Elsie Campbell, violins
Roger Zahab, viola*
Alex Johnson, cello


Violin Sonata no. 5 in F major, op. 24 ("Spring") Ludwig van Beethoven
II. Adagio molto espressivo

Elsie Campbell, violin
Emmanuel Berrido, piano



Brandenburg Concerto III, BWV 1048 Johann Sebastian Bach

[allegro] - Andante ["credenza" by R.Zahab] - Allegro


Jeremy Luu, Haiwei Hu, Jaydon Vu, violins
Robbie Fishel, Kimia Rafiee, Ben Green, violas
Hannah Neiderhiser, Graham Smith, Rena Li, cellos
Roger Zahab, piano


* faculty artist
+ guest artist

Monday at 8 pm
Bellefield Hall Auditorium

February 22, 2023
University of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Roger Zahab, director
Emmanuel Berrido, assistant conductor

Carneval Overture, op. 92 (1891)-Antonin Dvorak
Filling Adam's Glass (2003)-Burkhardt Reiter
Are - The Sojourner (2023, premiere)-Juwon Adenuga
Roger Zahab, conductor

Quartet for B flat clarinets (ca. 1962) - Seymour Barab
Symphony no. 1 in D, D 82 (1813)-Franz Schubert
Emmanuel Berrido, conducting

Bellefield Hall Auditorium
University of Pittsburgh
Oakland Campus

February 7, 2023
the winter fires started at Vermont College of Fine Arts

Roger's the winter fires were premiered at the Composer/Performer/Improvisor (Compervisor) Showcase
by Roger Zahab, violin and Robert Frankenberry, piano. Frankenberry's Working (memory) was also premiered by the same instigators with the assistance of Rob Wendt.

Other compervisors presented included Rob Wendt, Ras Moshe Burnett, Tomas Campbell, Ben Zervigon, Ethan Sudan, Dirje Childs, Carla Kihlstedt, Ingrid Laubrock, Leslie Mok, and Lisa Mezzacappa

Vermont College of Fine Arts
College Hall Gallery
Montpelier, VT

January 27, 2023
Nathalie Shaw performs some of Roger's solo works in Lyon, France

American works of the 20th and 21st centuries:
Roger's spell against sadness and summer phrases with music by George Gershwin, Amy Beach, Aaron Copland, and David Stock.

Centre Culturel d'Ecully
Lyon, France