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CASA Members with the Chicago New Arts Trio
CASA Members with guest performers the Chicago New Arts Trio after the Spring 2009 CASA Concert:
Front Row: On piano bench: 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

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.

Current Members of CASA are:

Timothy Kramer

William James Ross

David Heuser

Elisenda Fábregas

Ken Metz

Charles Goodhue

S. Beth May

Dimitar Ninov

Lily Barmor Rose

Misook Kim

Brian Nelson

Juan Luis de Pablo Enríquez Rohen

CASA Members with Samuel Adler
CASA Members with guests composers Samuel Adler and Brad Terry, February 2008:
Front Row: Jack Stamps, David Heuser, Samuel Adler, William Ross
Back Row: Brad Terry, S. Beth May, Timothy Kramer, Charles Goodhue, Ken Metz