Composers Alliance of San Antonio members who composed works for the "San Antonio Carnival of the Animals" collaboration with Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Philharmonic and San Antonio Zoo at the Tobin Center of the Performing Arts
Front Row: Edna Alejandra Longoria, Kevin Salfen, Ken Metz, Juan Luis de Pablo Enríquez Rohen
Back Row: Yvonne Freckmann, William J. Ross, Brian Bondari, Timothy Kramer, William Gokelman, S. Beth May, and Dimitar Ninov

About CASA

CASA (Composers Alliance of San Antonio) was started in 1999 when a group of composers in San Antonio, Texas, many of them associated with the city's universities, began to gather regularly for informal meetings. Timothy Kramer, one of the founding members, wanted to initiate a forum where composers could talk shop, exchange ideas—either practical or philosophical—and form a unified voice for contemporary concert music in the south Texas region. In his words, the concept of CASA "grew out of the idea of a French salon, where discussions would generate agreements or disagreements (in aesthetics), the sharing of technical information, or the awareness of music outside of our own small worlds."

After a few years of meeting, the members of CASA decided to organize a public hearing of their music. In March 2002, the UTSA New Music Festival featured selections from their recent music, with the hope that a full CASA concert could soon take place. The group's wishes were fulfilled in October 2002, when the first all-CASA concert took place at Trinity University's Ruth Taylor Concert Hall. At that event the group's larger artistic aim became evident. Rather than encourage a particular stylistic aesthetic, as some composers' groups have done in the past, it embraces a diverse range of styles reflecting its members' different ages, backgrounds, and life experiences. Since then, CASA has continued to meet at regular intervals to plan further events, including annual concerts. CASA first CD was released in February 2005, and CASA produced virtual concerts starting in 2020 while audiences sheltered in place. The concerts and partnerships have grown into a season of programming.

For more information, see the Events and Members pages.

(CASA Members with guest performers the ~Nois saxophone quartet after the March 25, 2023 concert at the International Arts Festival: Left-to-right: CASA members Peyton Ashley, Brian Bondari, Timothy Kramer; ~Nois members Jordan Lulloff, Hunter Bockes, János Csontos, and Julian Velasco; CASA member Juan Luis de Pablo Enríquez Rohen
(Location: the University of the Incarnate Word Luella Bennack Concert Hall)

(CASA Members with guest performers the Chicago New Arts Trio after the Spring 2009 Concert:
Front Row: the Chicago New Arts Trio: Carolyn Hart, Misook Kim, Jennie Brown; Squating: Dimitar Ninov
Back Row: Charles Goodhue, David Heuser, Timothy Kramer, Brian Nelson, S. Beth May, Ken Metz and Lily Barmor Rose)

Past Events & Projects

in reverse chronological order

2024

• May 12 - Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Philharmonic, San Antonio Zoo and CASA's "SA Carnival of the Animals" at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
• March 23 - Adelante Winds at The 2nd International Arts Festival (UIW)
• February 18 - Salon Concert at Petroff Residence
• January 28 - Made in SA IX at the Doseum

2023

• March 25 – ~Nois Saxophone Concert
• February 19 – Salon Concert
• January 29 – Made in SA VIII at the Doseum

2022

• May 22 – USAF Band of the West (U.S. Air Force)
• April 29 – Music Wall Duo Concert
• February 20 – Salon Concert
• February 1 – student composition contest to write for USAF Band of the West

2021

• November 20 – Music Wall Duo @ Illinois College
• August 8 – Made in SA VII - August 2021 (virtual)
• May 23 – Music Wall Duo "Rites of Spring" (virtual)
• March 21 – Composers Alliance of San Antonio presents "ephemera universalis: A Virtual Concert" (premiered on YouTube) Link
• Made in SA: New Music, New Musicians. A film by Brian Allen. Coproduced by Brian Allen, Ken Metz, and Kevin Salfen. Epiphyticinema, L.L.C., 2020. Premiered at Lift-off Global Network Sessions, 2020. Trailer

2020

• November – Composers Alliance of San Antonio presents Meditations, Prayers, Visions (premiered on YouTube) Link
• May 18 – Corona Chorales: De profundis (premiered on YouTube) Link
• May 17 – Made in SA VI: A Virtual Concert (premiered on YouTube)

2019

• September 28 – "SA24: Two Dozen Songs from Now," cosponsored by the Composers Alliance of San Antonio (Radius Center, San Antonio)
• May 19 – Made in SA V: Music Composed for and Performed by Young San Antonio Pianists (Concert Hall, University of the Incarnate Word)
• Made in SA, Book 5 (Late Intermediate). In Made in SA: a Piano Book Series by Members of the Composers Alliance of San Antonio. Compiled and Edited by Brian Bondari, Kenneth Metz, Kevin Salfen, and Carolyn True. San Antonio: Kefáli Press, 2019.

2018

• June 16 – Composers Alliance of San Antonio presents A Summer Afternoon of New Art Song (Home of Josefine Heim-Hall and Kevin Hall)
• May 20 – Made in SA IV: Music Composed for and Performed by Young San Antonio Pianists (Concert Hall, University of the Incarnate Word)
• Made in SA, Book 4 (Intermediate). In Made in SA: a Piano Book Series by Members of the Composers Alliance of San Antonio. Compiled and Edited by Carolyn True and Brian Bondari, assisted by Kenneth Metz and Kevin Salfen. San Antonio: Kefáli Press, 2018.

2017

• May 21 – Made in SA III: Music Composed for and Performed by Young San Antonio Pianists (Concert Hall, University of the Incarnate Word)
• Made in SA, Book 3 (Early Intermediate). In Made in SA: a Piano Book Series by Members of the Composers Alliance of San Antonio. Compiled and Edited by Carolyn True and Brian Bondari, assisted by Kenneth Metz and Kevin Salfen. San Antonio: Kefáli Press, 2017.

2016

• October 23 – Composers Alliance of San Antonio presents A Concert of New Art Song (Ruth Taylor Recital Hall, Trinity University)
• May 15 – Made in SA II: Music Composed for and Performed by Young San Antonio Pianists (Concert Hall, University of the Incarnate Word)
• Made in SA, Book 2 (Late Elementary). In Made in SA: a Piano Book Series by Members of the Composers Alliance of San Antonio. Compiled and Edited by Carolyn True and Brian Bondari, assisted by Kenneth Metz and Kevin Salfen. San Antonio: Kefāli Press, 2016.
• Made in SA, Book 1 (Early Elementary). In Made in SA: a Piano Book Series by Members of the Composers Alliance of San Antonio. Compiled and Edited by Carolyn True and Brian Bondari, assisted by Kenneth Metz and Kevin Salfen. San Antonio: Kefáli Press, 2016.

2015

• October 29 – Where Rivers Meet Symposium Opening Concert, sponsored by the Composers Alliance of San Antonio
• May 15 – Bells and Whistles: New Music for Flute and Clarinet from the Composer Alliance of San Antonio; Laura Salfen, flute, and Gary Fair, clarinet (Recital Hall, University of Texas at San Antonio)
• January 25 – Made in SA I: Music composed for and performed by young San Antonio pianists (Seddon Recital Hall, University of the Incarnate Word)

2013

• February 24 – Poemas y música: A Celebration of Carmen Tafolla, San Antonio’s First Poet Laureate; settings of Carmen Tafolla’s poetry by members of CASA, with readings by Carmen Tafolla (Ruth Taylor Recital Hall, Trinity University)

2012

• April 4 – CASA Presents Music by Brian Bondari, Charles Goodhue, Ken Metz, Dimitar Ninov, William James Ross, and Kevin Salfen, performed by Zachary Ridgway, Laura Salfen, Mark Twehues, and William James Ross (Our Lady’s Chapel, University of the Incarnate Word)

2011

• information needed

2010

• September 21 & 22 – Fall 2010 Concert

2009

• April 5 – Spring 2009 Concert

2008

• November 23 – Fall 2008 Concert
• May 4 – Spring 2008 Concert

2007

• November 18 – Fall 2007 Concert
• April 13 – Spring 2007 Concert

2006

• November 18 – Fall 2006 Concert
• April 30 – Spring 2006 Concert

2005

• November 12 – Fall 2005 Concert

2004

• November 14 – Fall 2004 Concert

2003

• November 2 – Fall 2003 Concert 

2002

• October 6 – Fall 2002 Concert

The Voice of New Music in San Antonio