SUU Music Launches Signature Series With Khemia Ensemble
Published: October 06, 2026 |
Author: Kol Gibson |
Read Time: 4 minutes
Southern Utah University Music will launch a new chapter on Oct. 16 when the genre-defying Khemia Ensemble takes the stage in the new George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Music Center’s Okerlund Hall for the first concert of the 2026-27 SUU Music Signature Series.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will showcase Khemia Ensemble’s inventive approach to contemporary classical music, blending chamber music with multimedia and influences from multiple musical genres. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for SUU alumni, and $10 for youth and non-SUU students. SUU Students, faculty, and staff are admitted free with a valid ID.
Formerly known as the Satellite Salon Series, the SUU Music Signature Series builds on a tradition that has brought distinguished guest artists to campus since 2009. With the opening of the Eccles Music Center, the series is expanding its scope with four annual concerts in Okerlund Hall, bringing nationally and internationally recognized musicians to Cedar City while giving SUU students opportunities to learn directly from working professionals.
“The Satellite Salon Series has been one of the unique hallmarks of SUU Music since 2009,” said Dr. Jed Blodgett, faculty director of the SUU Signature Series. “With the opening of the new George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Music Center, we felt it was time to pivot from an intimate chamber series to a star-studded, Grammy-level showcase.”
Each Signature Series residency is designed to be more than an evening concert. Visiting artists spend time working with SUU and area students through a series of educational and performance opportunities. The day typically includes a masterclass open to university and high school students, followed by a conversational Q&A modeled after Inside the Actors Studio. The experience culminates in the evening’s professional concert, giving students the opportunity to see world-class musicians both as performers and educators.
Described by the CEO of Chamber Music America as “bold, visionary and courageous” and “a shining example of the transformative power of chamber music,” Khemia Ensemble embraces broad perspectives in contemporary classical music. The ensemble’s distinctive instrumentation including soprano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and two percussionists, allows it to create a sound that moves between traditional chamber music, new classical works, multimedia and a wide range of musical influences.
“Khemia Ensemble is the perfect fit to launch the new SUU Signature Series,” Blodgett said. “They offer cutting-edge programming and a unique instrumentation that allow them to not only share something special with our community, but connect individually with SUU music students across all areas of our department.”
Khemia has performed at venues and festivals including National Sawdust, the Wunsch New Music Festival, the Mizzou International Composers Festival, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Argentina’s Biennial New Music Festival. The ensemble has also completed residencies at more than a dozen universities throughout North and South America, reflecting its commitment to connecting professional performance with music education.
That educational focus will extend beyond the university through a partnership with ArtsFusion, which will connect Khemia musicians with students in the Iron County School District.
“Through a wonderful partnership with the artsFUSION program, we are also thrilled to connect Signature Series artists like Khemia with local students to inspire the next generation of young listeners,” Blodgett said.
For Dr. Blodgett, the new Signature Series represents an opportunity to make the Eccles Music Center a destination for exceptional music while creating meaningful connections between performers, students, and the broader community.
“We will produce four concerts a year in the new state-of-the-art Okerlund Concert Hall to inspire regional audiences through extraordinary live performances and give our students direct access to today’s leading musicians,” Blodgett said. “We look forward to bringing our campus and community together around extraordinary music spanning classical, jazz, and world traditions.”
He said Khemia’s performance offers Cedar City audiences an opportunity to experience a level of artistry that is rarely available in the region. “We hope everyone will take advantage of this incredible opportunity to experience an unforgettable night of live music.”
The SUU Music Signature Series featuring Khemia Ensemble is made possible through the TRT Grant from the Cedar City-Brian Head Tourism Bureau, Cedar City RAP Tax, and artsFUSION.
Tickets and additional information are available at www.bard.org/suumusic.
About SUU's College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs, including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year, which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.
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Contact Information
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu
