Latest News
Dec 2023
HinterTerra was chosen for the 14th ATHENS VIDEO DANCE PROJECT in Athens, Greece., December 18-19. HinterTerra is "A screendance collaboration filmed in Malta in April 2022. This work places the body in urban and natural landscapes, exploring the local through visceral engagement of embodiment with place. This poetic intervention will offer the viewer reflective canvases, addressing themes of placemaking, displacement/emplacement, land use, borders and migration, frictions between commerce and community, and heritage and development. The work was premiered at Spazju Kreattiv, Malta’s Centre for Creativity in Valletta, as part of a larger exhibit along with textile designs, photographies and other scenic elements." Cast/Crew - dancers: Florinda Camilleri, Rocio Luna, Michelle Nance, Heike Salzer; camera: Ana Baer, Heike Salzer; editing: Ana Baer, Heike Salzer; textile design: Robert Burton; music: Jack Laidlaw; scenic design: Cheri Prough-DeVol; director + producer: WECreate Productions. Richard D. Hall was the sound designer and lead sound mixer for the project.
Nov. 2023
Being Together was selected as screening for Experimental Film Online, MX. Being Together was a collaborative work between Texas State University Dance video-choreographer Ana Baer, the Texas State University Merge Dance Company and the Body Shift Collective, an Austin, TX, based dance company specializing in mixed-ability improvisational dance. Richard D. Hall composed music for the film.
Nov. 2023
The TXST Mysterium New Music Ensemble performed a concert titled "Improv," of experimental structured improvisational pieces by established composers such Pauline Oliveros as well as some student composed works. Members of the ensemble included graduate students Jay Nava, Hannah Bradley, Lucas Perkins and undergraduate students Josh Nepote and Deacon Wolfe. The ensemble is directed by Richard D. Hall. The performance also featured special guest Dr. Michael Ippolito.
Oct. 2023
Richard D. Hall has been the lead musican/music coordinator for "Testify," a monthly live, storytelling show based in Austin, TX. From the Testify website, "To date, Testify brought has brought over 215 storytellers and 386 stories to the stage. Anchored in the belief that everyone has a story, the storytellers range from professional performers to people standing on a stage for the first time in their lives. Each month has a different theme, and stories are selected that each reflect different aspects of that theme, connecting the stories and tellers in sometimes surprising ways."
Sept. 2023
The Texas State School of Music presented "On a Seizing Sky," a recital featuring faculty member Richard D. Hall performing several original compositions of acoustic instruments manipulated and looped via Laptop computer with live, interactive video. The recital took place on September 26, 2023 at the Texas State University Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. Richard and special guest Wesley Uchiama-Penix ended the concert with a performance of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and the German composer/sound artist Carsten Nicolai's work "Trioon" for piano and electronics.
July 2023
The Texas State Mysterium for New Music Ensemble was recently invited to performed for the fourth year in a row at the 2023 Classic Game Fest in Austin, TX. The Classic Game Fest is considered “the biggest retro gaming event in Texas,” with an estimated attendance this year of over 15, 000. The ensemble performed music from several well known video games including Sonic, Undertale, Zelda, Castelvania, Star Fox, and Donkey Kong Country as well as several structured improvisations and original works. All pieces were arranged by current students and alumni of the ensemble. Members of the ensemble were graduate student , Thomas Torres (MM, 2022), Andi Ivins (MM, 2021), Wesley S. Uchiyama-Penix (MM, 2020) and guest Andrew Coldwell. The Mysterium ensemble is under the direction of Senior Lecturer of Music Richard D. Hall.
July 2023
HinterTerra was chosen for the Dance Days Festival in Chania, Greece. HinterTerra is "A screendance collaboration filmed in Malta in April 2022. This work places the body in urban and natural landscapes, exploring the local through visceral engagement of embodiment with place. This poetic intervention will offer the viewer reflective canvases, addressing themes of placemaking, displacement/emplacement, land use, borders and migration, frictions between commerce and community, and heritage and development. The work was premiered at Spazju Kreattiv, Malta’s Centre for Creativity in Valletta, as part of a larger exhibit along with textile designs, photographies and other scenic elements." Cast/Crew - dancers: Florinda Camilleri, Rocio Luna, Michelle Nance, Heike Salzer; camera: Ana Baer, Heike Salzer; editing: Ana Baer, Heike Salzer; textile design: Robert Burton; music: Jack Laidlaw; scenic design: Cheri Prough-DeVol; director + producer: WECreate Productions. Richard D. Hall was the sound designer and lead sound mixer for the project.
June 2023
Press release: "Join us at Beerburg Brewing on Saturday, June 24th, 4-6 PM, for an extraordinary dance experience. Dance Waterloo presents a performance where audience-submitted words, ranging from 'pizza' to 'protest', inspire a unique dance improvisation, only to be seen once! Accompanying this is a diverse musical panorama by Richard Hall and Wesley S. Uchiyama-Penix, mirroring the energy of the dance. Concurrently, Ali Nowell paints live, her canvas echoing the word-inspired dance. Attendees have a chance to take home this artwork. Additionally, explore and support local talent at our pop-up market, featuring ten Central Texas vendors. All thanks to our sponsor, Beerburg Brewing, Words With Waterloo fuses dance, music, and visual art, creating an unforgettable artistic event. Be part of this creativity-driven evening where your words power art!"
April 2023
HinterTerra was chosen for the Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions Hosted by @LifftOffGlobalNetwork. HinterTerra is " A screendance collaboration filmed in Malta in April 2022. This work places the body in urban and natural landscapes, exploring the local through visceral engagement of embodiment with place. This poetic intervention will offer the viewer reflective canvases, addressing themes of placemaking, displacement/emplacement, land use, borders and migration, frictions between commerce and community, and heritage and development. The work was premiered at Spazju Kreattiv, Malta’s Centre for Creativity in Valletta, as part of a larger exhibit along with textile designs, photographies and other scenic elements." Cast/Crew - dancers: Florinda Camilleri, Rocio Luna, Michelle Nance, Heike Salzer; camera: Ana Baer, Heike Salzer; editing: Ana Baer, Heike Salzer; textile design: Robert Burton; music: Jack Laidlaw; scenic design: Cheri Prough-DeVol; director + producer: WECreate Productions. Richard D. Hall was the sound designer and lead sound mixer for the project.
April 2023
The Texas State Mysterium for New Music Ensemble was recently invited to perform for the 2023 MuTe Fest (Music Technology Festival) opening concert at the University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. The theme of the festival was video games. The ensemble performed "Video Game Music Reboot," music from several well known video games including Last of Us, Kingdom Hearts II, Super Marios Bros, Castlevania, Minecraft, Donkey Kong Country and Pokeman. All pieces were arranged by current students and alumni of the ensemble. Members of the ensemble were students Stephan R. Arce-Penedo, Jay Nava, Joshua Nepote, Lucas Perkins, Ben Schroeder Elliot Smith, and alumni Thomas Torres (MM, 2022) and Wesley S. Uchiyama-Penix (MM, 2020). The Mysterium ensemble is under the direction of Senior Lecturer of Music Richard D. Hall.