Melting Snow – Casey Mathur (United States)

Melting Snow is a piece about the melting ice caps caused by global warming— how beautiful it may seem to watch, but what horrific consequences it will produce.

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Photos of ice melt around the world

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Ann adds: one of the things I like best about this work is the fixed electronics in the background of vinyl static. It’s quite a beautiful with flowing, tonal arpeggiation and the repeating harmonic progression, but the background noise is always there, a sinister backdrop that you are vaguely aware of.

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Casey Mathur biography (from 2020): I am a freshman at the University of Chicago, recently graduating from Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School. As a former member of my high school jazz band, chamber group, choir, and orchestra, I learned to compose through my performance experience on piano and flute.

My compositions are a fusion of multiple genres, including jazz, metal, rock, lo-fi, and classical. In addition to traditional classical instruments, I experiment with electric guitars, percussion, and synthetic sounds. My first work, Tell Me Your Real Name, was professionally recorded by a professional contemporary ensemble, The Parhelion Trio.

I annually participate in the NYSSMA competition, receiving the highest grades for level 6 flute and level 6 piano. For flute, I studied with Mr. John Romeri and Ms. Laura Gilbert, and for piano, I was classically trained by Dr. Ashlee Miller. I have taken AP music theory and has taken a songwriting workshop at Columbia Prep, under the guidance of Mr. John Fischer. Currently, I am studying composition under Dr. Daniel Felsenfeld.

My family is of two immigrants— my mother from Hong Kong and father from India. I intend to study composition and political science.