Chroma

Chroma is an immersive electroacoustic opera in four movements, created and performed by Egemen Kesikli and Kevin M. Olson, with text by Philip K. Dick, Lewis Carroll, Robert Chambers, and Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil. The project aims to bring a millennium-old art tradition into dialogue with contemporary art by integrating microtonal makam singing, avant-garde, live-electronics, and interactive visuals to celebrate the rich modal system of makam music while pushing its boundaries through new mediums.

Egemen Kesikli

Turkish musician Egemen Kesikli (pronounced Eh-gheh-men Kheh-sɪ́kɪ́ -lih) strives to promote diversity and decolonize the canon in music theory, musicology, and music performance. He received his doctorate in composition from the University of Colorado Boulder and master's from the University of Texas at Austin. His mentors over the years have included Carter Pann, Timothy Mahr, Sonia Seeman, and Güher & Süher Pekinel.

Michael Olson

Kevin Michael Olson is a distinguished polymath, renowned for his avant-garde exploration of both visual and sonic realms. Holding a master’s degree in computer engineering, he became a pioneer in 3D graphics rendering, securing multiple patents that contributed to the modern landscape of digital possibilities. His intellectual curiosity led him to pursue a second graduate degree in music composition, further igniting his creative vision and leading to the creation of numerous multimedia works and performances at venues such as ATLAS, the Black Box Labs at Wesleyan University, and the Otterbox Full Dome Theater.