News

The Anatomy of a “New Classical” Concert

Taking lessons learned from the past couple of decades in programming live, “serious” music, today’s Classical concerts don’t look or sound like you might expect. At one point or another throughout the years, we’ve questioned whether formal printed programs were necessary (sometimes “yes”, sometimes “just different”), we’ve sought out younger audience members and encouraged them to dress casually, we’ve spiffed it up and served up fine meal courses paired with individual composers, and we’ve become more inclusive in our programming with a broader range of musical styles represented. For better, or worse, today’s audiences now … Read more

Tim Hinck’s Symphony “Listening Parties”

Tim Hinck’s first symphony is set to premiere in Wichita, KS on March 9th, 2024. For those who can’t attend the premiere in person, or who want a little insight into the composition of this powerful orchestral work, two “listening parties” are offered in Chattanooga, free admission and open to the public: •Monday, January 29th at 1:00 PM in the Roland Hayes Auditorium at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga •Saturday, February 3rd at 3:30 PM in the Nave of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 848 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN Hear the entire symphony in … Read more

Hinck to Premiere New Ballet in 2024 with BALLET ESPRIT

Composer Tim Hinck teams up with Ballet Esprit for a two world premieres in the 2024-2025 performance season. Sharing a connection to work that is elemental, raw, and yet classically refined, these artists are joining forces for two unique events: Thursday, August 15 | 6p at Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave Chattanooga, TN 37403 Friday, August 23 | 6:30p at The Common House 1517 Mitchell Ave Chattanooga, TN 37408 Thursday, August 29 | 6p at Lookout Lake 3408 Elder Mountain Rd Chattanooga, TN 37419 (Outdoor, lakeside performance) Composer Tim Hinck, whose … Read more

The Secret of “Not Knowing” vs. Indecision

I’m constantly delighted to be both a visual artist and a composer of music. It’s interesting how similar the creative acts of drawing, painting, and sound composition can be. Each project teaches me things both unique to the specific medium at hand and also surprisingly applicable across various media. This past year was one of struggle and introspection for me as an artist. Not surprisingly, it was also my most productive year to date. Hardship and struggle often yield lots of new work but also new lessons learned and techniques that can be taken forward … Read more

Hinck’s First Symphony to Premiere in Wichita

“high-octane adrenaline… peppered with the influences of film scores and big-band jazz” Tim Hinck’s first symphony will premiere in Kansas with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Hege on March 9th, 2024. At the end of 2021, I was approached by a private commissioner to compose a four movement symphony. With a few simple prompts stemming from a conversation about Surrealism and particularly Lewis Carroll’s poem “Jabberwocky”, I was given full license to let my imagination loose in composing my latest symphonic work. The work began to take shape over the next … Read more

Sanity for New Music

It will come as no surprise that composers are not entirely sane. A little insanity goes right along with rebelliousness and bold innovation. And while some creative insanity should be cherished, there is at least one reason that we composers could use a little therapy (or at least a little perspective from a friend posing as a therapist online). Hey composers, slow down! A basic formula that every armchair psychiatrist prescribes involves helping a patient work through past experiences in order to grow and maintain mental health. Fundamentally, you achieve your fullest potential when you … Read more

A Wake-Up Call to Musicians

When I was in grad school, I made a vow that I would hold myself to a higher standard. Enough mediocrity! I looked around and saw musicians patting each other on the back for below-average work, and I knew that the only way to raise the standard of excellency was to speak up. Nobody was benefiting from this glad-handing and chicanery, and I wasn’t going to stand for it! Quite literally, I would keep my seat. I decided that the best way I could stand for the truth was to sit. At any concert or … Read more

Give Me Room! a new show on Women’s Suffrage

For my second work for the theatrical stage, I wanted to create a show that makes a statement on social justice through musical choices rather than just language. Librettist, Gaye Jeffers (who also wrote the book) was insistent that the point of the show would not be to tell the story of how the fight for women’s suffrage was won. “We all know how the story ends,” she kept reminding me. This freed us up to really dive into the characters, disturb the chronological narrative, and for me to use several musical styles that hint … Read more

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