Groundbreaking Sounds: Raven Chacon Brings Innovative Music to NAU
Raven Chacon, celebrated as the first Native American musician to receive the Pulitzer Prize, is set to perform at Northern Arizona University (NAU), offering audiences a chance to experience his avant-garde musical style. As a Diné composer, Chacon is known for his ability to blend traditional instruments with unconventional objects, creating soundscapes that reflect the rich history of the Southwest.
Chacon’s visit to NAU is part of a collaborative event featuring Native artists, culminating in a unique concert experience. The schedule kicks off with an informal lecture at the Kitt Recital Hall on Thursday, January 30, at 7:30 p.m. The following day, attendees can engage with Chacon at a meet and greet session at 11:30 a.m. in the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures gathering room. The highlight of the event, the Horizons Concert, will take place at Ardrey Memorial Auditorium at 7:30 p.m., showcasing performances by Chacon alongside fellow Native artists Michael Begay and NAU alumna Sage Bond.
Bruce Reiprich, the Michael and Karen Kitt endowed professor of composition, emphasized the significance of Chacon’s presence, noting, “One of the reasons we are so interested in bringing Raven Chacon to campus, and the other Diné composers Sage Bond and Michael Begay, is that we want to provide successful models for the Diné community and the Indigenous community in general.” He added, “These are just wonderful people that students can look up to and rub shoulders with and engage in interesting conversations.”
Chacon’s work extends beyond music; he is a mentor to over 300 students and a voice for Diné and other Native American composers, highlighting their cultural contributions. Reiprich praised Chacon’s influence, stating, “His impact as a teacher and his musical style is unique and well received. That impact brings people together, and that is what all art is all about.”
Born in Fort Defiance within the Navajo Nation, Chacon is an accomplished artist with visual and sonic works exhibited worldwide. As part of the event, Chacon, Begay, and Bond will participate in rehearsals with Ensemble Flageolet, guiding performers on optimal instrument placement for their pieces. Ensemble Flageolet, NAU’s professional contemporary music group, includes faculty, guest performers, and advanced students.
Reiprich highlighted the educational value of these interactions, explaining, “It is a way of bringing our students into the world of contemporary music and meeting our guest composers and working with them directly. They will come to rehearsals and make suggestions as to how best we can perform and interpret their music. It will be a rewarding experience that extends their education far beyond what happens in the classroom.”
The events are free and accessible to the public. For further details, visit the Kitt School of Music’s website.
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