Nova Linea Musica
Innovating the Future of Classical Music
Welcome to Nova Linea Musica, the newest addition to Chicago's vibrant music scene. We are dedicated to the creation, presentation, and promotion of new music. In our inaugural concert series, we are commissioning works from leading composers and pairing them with exceptional performers to deliver world premieres that will resonate deeply with you, the listener. Our commitment to new music will continue as we move forward, ensuring that each performance brings fresh and exciting collaborations to the concert hall. These events seek to close the distance between composers, performers, and audiences, fostering relationships beyond the stage.
More Than Just Concerts
At Nova Linea Musica, our devotion to contemporary music goes further than live performances. Through high-quality audio and video recordings, we ensure that the voices of our composers and performers will continue to inspire, reaching music lovers everywhere. Whether you're attending in person or enjoying the performances from afar, these moments will leave a lasting impression.
The Ideal Setting
Located in the heart of Chicago's Loop, Guarneri Hall provides an intimate 60-seat performance space. This season, Nova Linea Musica's concerts will be held at this exceptional venue, just steps away from public transportation and ample parking. It offers access to an extraordinary musical experience, making it easy for you to be a part of something special.
Join Us
Discover the captivating world of classical music with Nova Linea Musica. You'll experience imaginative works from the mid-20th century onward, performed by award-winning emerging and established artists. Begin your evening with a lively pre-concert conversation (5:30 pm), then enjoy a post-performance reception offering gourmet cuisine and fine wine (7:30 pm). During the 'Meet and Greet', you'll have the chance to mingle with composers, musicians, and the Nova Linea Musica team, making each event a truly personal and memorable one.
The Visionaries Behind Nova Linea Musica:
Executive Director Michele Mohammadi
Artistic Director Desirée Ruhstrat (Northwestern University, Lincoln Trio, BlackOak Ensemble)
Creative Director Mike Grittani
Audio Engineer Charlie Post
The Society of Disobedient Listeners Founder/Host Doyle Armbrust
Treasurer Ramzan Dhanji
Upcoming Schedule
September 10, 2025
6:30 pm
Echoes and Algorithms
Pianist and composer Conrad Tao — hailed by Vulture as “a phenomenal talent and a mighty creative force” — launches NLM’s 2025–2026 season with Echoes and Algorithms, an evening where technology, memory, and sound converge. The program features Tao’s Hot Air, a blend of classical and jazz influences, exploring the connection between traditional and contemporary music.
The evening also includes Ben Nobuto’s Tell Me Again, a vibrant exploration of fragmented memory, and a world premiere by Chris Mercer commissioned by Nova Linea Musica. John Supko’s One Hundred Thousand Billion Pieces blurs the line between human and machine, while Jürg Frey’s Extended Circular Music No. 2 offers a spacious, meditative counterpoint. Join us for a night where echoes of the past meet the algorithms for the future.
Featuring: Conrad Tao (piano)
October 29, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Owls Quartet - Rare Birds
In Rare Birds, the dynamic Owls Quartet presents a vibrant array of musical treasures spanning centuries and continents. The program moves from the whimsical charm of Chick Corea’s Children’s Song No. 12 to Paul Wiancko’s earthy Vox Petra and Franghiz Ali-Zadeh’s rhythmic Rəqs. François Couperin’s timeless Les Barricades Mystérieuses meets the inventive Ricercar by Trollstilt, while Wiancko’s When The Night and Terry Riley’s Good Medicine offer soulful reflections. The evening culminates in a Nova Linea Musica commission and World Premiere by Gabriella Smith, capturing the wild spirit and discovery at the heart of the night.
Featuring: Alexi Kenney (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), Gabriel Cabezas (cello), and Paul Wiancko (cello)
December 3, 2025
5:30 pm
Against All Odds
GRAMMY Award-winning Catalyst Quartet, praised for their “invariably energetic and finely burnished” performances and “earthly vigor,” presents "Against All Odds" — a stirring exploration of resilience, identity, and hope through a powerful and wide-ranging program.The evening moves from the poignancy of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s Madre la de los primores to the lively spirit of John Adams’ Fellow Traveler and the luminous beauty of Aftab Darvishi’s Daughters of Sol. Shostakovich’s searing Quartet No. 8 and Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s vibrant String Quartet No. 1 further deepen the emotional landscape. The program also features two World Premieres by GRAMMY Award-winning Derrick Skye and Adriana Casarrubios, commissioned by Nova Linea Musica.
Featuring: Karla Donehew Perez (violin), Abi Fayette (violin), Paul Laraia (viola), and Karlos Rodriguez (cello)
We believe that new music is an essential element of a thriving world.
We believe that great music flourishes in an environment of ongoing reinvention.
We believe that emerging performers are ideal ambassadors for new music.
We believe that new music deserves exceptional performances documented on audio and video to the highest possible standards.
Latest News
Review: Nova Linea Inaugural Season Closes With Buoyant and Original Compositions
"Desirée Ruhstrat curated an impressive first season that went so well, NLM is doubling it for next season."
Review: Letters From Home - Music for Body and Soul
"NLM...is a point of pride for Chicago as the cradle of new music."