Performing Arts Houston’s 5th annual commissioning series to features new works by Houston artists Mezclada Dance Company led by Joel Aguilera, Kinetic Ensemble, and Kay Prince with world premieres presented in March
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(HOUSTON, September 2, 2025)– Performing Arts Houston proudly announces Mezclada Dance Company led by Joel Aguilera, Kinetic Ensemble, and Kay Prince as the winning artists of the 5th annual New/Now Houston Artist Commissioning Project. Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, these artists will receive comprehensive production, marketing, and publicity support for the creation and presentation of their new commissioned works, premiering at the Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater March 20-21, 2026. Pick Your Price tickets are available now at performingartshouston.org.
“New/Now shines a spotlight on Houston’s creativity and cultural richness,” says Performing Arts Houston President & CEO Meg Booth. “This year’s winners reflect the incredible diversity of voices shaping our
city’s future. Each project offers audiences a world premiere experience that is both deeply Houston and universally resonant.”
In addition to the premieres, the artists will collaborate with Performing Arts Houston’s Education and Community Engagement team to build connections beyond the stage. “The power of New/Now lies in celebrating the connections between artists and Houston communities,” says Education and Community Engagement Director Ashley Warner. “Workshops, masterclasses, and conversations ensure these premieres create lasting impacts across Houston.”
2025 NEW/NOW WINNERS & WORLD PREMIERE COMMISSIONS
(in alphabetical order by artist name)
Mezclada Dance Company led by Joel Aguilera Commissioned work: De Aquí! Joel Aguilera, Houston choreographer, educator, and founder of Mezclada Dance Company, premieres De Aquí! (“From Here”), a 30-minute fusion of dance, live music, and short film. Drawing on salsa, breaking, and modern dance, the piece celebrates the voices of Houston’s Latin communities and their essential contributions to the city’s cultural fabric. De Aquí! features Mezclada dancers, live Latin musicians, and documentary-style films spotlighting local stories of heritage, resilience, and creativity.
Kinetic Ensemble Commissioned work: Dark Matter: a concerto for flute and strings after Octavia Butler Recently named “Best Chamber Orchestra of 2023” (Houston Press), Kinetic Ensemble presents Dark Matter, a 25-minute concerto for flute and strings by composer Jaylin Vinson, featuring flutist Tyler Martin. Inspired by the speculative worlds of Octavia Butler, the five-movement work explores terrestrial, aquatic, outer, cyber, and psychic spaces through sonic storytelling. Blending classical, Gospel, and Afro-diasporic traditions, Dark Matter reflects both Houston’s status as a hub for space exploration and its role in advancing Black artistic futures.
Kay Prince Commissioned work: The City Sings: A Suite for Houston Composer and pianist Kay Prince debuts The City Sings, a five-movement orchestral suite inspired by Houston’s layered histories and communities. Written for strings or full orchestra, the piece captures both intimate and expansive dimensions of the city’s identity. Prince—founder of B&W Classical Academy—creates work that values clarity, form, and emotional resonance, extending her mission of using music to build connection and accessibility in the community.
ABOUT NEW/NOW
Since launching New/Now in 2020, Performing Arts Houston has commissioned and presented world premieres of 20 innovative works by Houston artists, supporting bold creativity across genres throughout Houston’s artistic ecosystem. Past premieres include Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton’s The World’s Intermission (2022), Harrison Guy’s Colored Carnegie (2021), Jose Hernandez’ Desert Shelter or Tony Brandt’s Diabelli 100), and Ben Chavez’s Last Day, County Fair (2025).
New/Now continues Performing Arts Houston’s mission by sustaining working artists, providing platforms for new voices, and welcoming and engaging communities through the transformative power of live performance.
TICKET INFORMATION
Pick Your Price tickets, starting at $0, are available at performingartshouston.org or by calling the Box Office at (713) 227-4772. 
