Aurora Nealand 2025 Composer in Residence New Works Concert

Composer in Residence: New Works Concert Series

Join us for an extraordinary musical journey with Brian Haas, an internationally celebrated pianist, composer, and arranger, as he launches the Composer in Residence: New Works Concert Series at the JCC. This innovative program brings creativity to life as Haas collaborates with a featured guest artist each week to compose original music. The week-long residency culminates in a Saturday night concert, where the duo debuts their freshly crafted compositions in an intimate and inspiring setting. Witness the magic of creation and performance come together in this one-of-a-kind series celebrating artistic collaboration and musical exploration. 

Aurora Nealand

Aurora Nealand is a dynamic composer, multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, accordion, voice), and social-practice artist based in New Orleans. A driving force in the city’s traditional jazz and improvised music scenes since 2004, Nealand combines deep respect for New Orleans musical traditions with a passion for innovation and storytelling through sound. She leads The Royal Roses, a band that bridges early New Orleans jazz with experimental collective improvisation and sound collage, drawing inspiration from movements like the AACM.

Beyond her performance career, Nealand is a sought-after educator and collaborator. She has worked with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Let Freedom Swing program and serves as a facilitator for Found Sound Nation, fostering global musical exchanges through residencies like OneBeat. In 2023, she premiered The Book of Communal Howling with the Instigation Orchestra and debuted City Songs, a community-driven sonic mapping project featured at Big Ears Festival and set to expand internationally in 2024.

A co-founder of SONO (Sound Observatory New Orleans), Nealand is dedicated to supporting workshops and new music in her region. Her projects have earned her accolades including multiple OffBeat Awards for Best Female Performer, Best Saxophonist, and Best Traditional Jazz Band. Her diverse body of work spans theatrical productions (KindHumanKind), solo projects (The Monocle Ensemble), and collaborations with artists such as Preservation Hall All-Stars, Bill Frisell, Pauline Oliveros, and Animal Collective. Nealand’s performances have graced premier stages and festivals worldwide, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

March 29, 2025
Doors Open at 7:00 pm
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
$20 per ticket

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