Kara-Lis Coverdale
A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever
Music
Kara-Lis Coverdale presents a program of solo piano works, A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever, in PS21’s Black Box Theater. Taken from her recent album of the same name, the works are in a way classic nocturnes (i.e. inspired by night), but also evoke tangential, abstract associations: an animation of melodic webs; moving through a thick substance; sound objects in space. Written and recorded during winter in a small rural studio in Ontario, they also reflect Coverdale’s retreat from maximal sound and a return to acoustic fundamentals.
A Series of Actions in a Sphere of Forever is slow and focuses as much on the decay of piano melody as on its attack. Mood emerges from deceleration and restraint; emerging melodies, inspired by modal influences from the late Renaissance, post-war minimalism, and Coverdale’s idiosyncratic sense of musical ecology, bloom at their own pace.
In her own words: “This [music] is an exploration of harmony in space, music as an antithesis to silence. A silence that does not exist.”
The Dark: PS21’s fearless winter festival of live performance radiating across Columbia County
The Dark is a new annual festival from PS21 : Center for Contemporary Performance that celebrates and elevates the depths of winter. Taking place February 16–22, 2026, the festival will unfold at PS21 and across Columbia County—in theatres, restaurants, libraries, saunas, and outdoor public spaces. Featuring more than 60 international artists and over 80 performances, The Dark offers a packed week of world-class contemporary performance, installation, music, dance, and theatre—all exploring winter as a time of community and solitude, fire and ice, darkness and light. A major new attraction for the region, the festival positions Columbia County as a year-round cultural destination—not just a summer one.
It is a light in the dark—and The Dark is the light.
Secure your Festival Pass to The Dark now which includes tickets to every performance along with a complimentary sauna and ice skating session!
Kara-Lis Coverdale, a unique voice in the contemporary music landscape, is a Canadian composer and musician of Estonian descent. Her musical journey began at the age of 12 with organ playing and music direction, experiences that would deeply influence her work. Coverdale’s music is a temporal anomaly, weaving the hyper-future with sacred histories, bridging the digital and acoustic worlds, and creating soundscapes that seem both ancient and new. Her works, praised for their meditative qualities and depth, explore multiple realities, often merging into a unique auditory experience. This approach reflects her extensive expertise in both electronic and acoustic musical languages, which she manipulates with the finesse of a virtuoso.
Please note that this performance has an unconventional seating, limited seats or standing room only. We are happy to accommodate any specific accessibility needs.
Please reach out to Adriana at boxoffice@ps21chatham.org, and she will coordinate with our front-of-house team to ensure your experience is comfortable and enjoyable.
