250 YEARS*| Sept 18-20, 6-9 PM.

@ Schoolhouse

2247 N Maplewood Ave, Chicago, IL. 

SILENT FILM: GODZILLA| Oct 16, 7-9 PM.

@ Unity Lutheran Church

1212 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL.

PAST EVENTS

PLEIADES SERIES (spring 2026)

Elastic Arts, Chicago, Illinois.

• Émilie Fortin, Clown, Improvised Trumpet.

• Say Mayfire, Sonic Clown, Electronics.

DEEP LISTENING AND IMPROVISATION (spring 2026)

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia

• Freya Downey, Co-Presenter and improviser. 

• Say Mayfire, Co-Presenter and improviser. 

SAY MAYFIRE'S STUDIO RECITAL (spring 2026)

West Loop, Chicago, Illinois. 

• Merit School of Music, host. 

• A Piano Recital featuring the students of Say Mayfire.

EXCEPTET PREMIERES VOLITION (spring 2026)

Jersey City, New Jersey. 

• Curated by Exceptet.

• New work Annika Socolofsky. 

• Premiere of VOLITION by Say Mayfire.

SCHOOLHOUSE (spring 2026)

Humboldt Park; Chicago, Illinois. 

• Curated by Tyler Wagner

• Caroline Jesalva: Improvised violin, voice, and electronics, Peruvian Opera music. 

• Say Mayfire: "Educational Television" (TV Remote-controlled Max Patch).

• Jake Leech Improvised electronics, bass guitar. 

STOLA CONTEMPORARY (spring 2026)

Stola Contemporary; Chicago, Illinois. 

• Curated by Caroline Jesalva

• Say Mayfire: Washing Piece, Pretend Beach, Clown-Becomes-Tree.

• Mocrep: Improvised and quasi-improvised musics/sounds. 

• Caroline Jesalva: Surrealist Games. 

ONE NIGHT TO SAVE THE MAN IN THE BEAN (winter 2025)

Lincoln Hall; Chicago, Illinois. 

• Man in the Bean Coalition, Clowning

• Say Mayfire and Dani Che, Sound Spirits, Foley, Sonic Improvisation

• BIG TOOB debut

LIVE FROM GOTTLIEB (autumn 2025)

Merit School of Music; Chicago, Illinois. 

• Say Mayfire, Piano and Performance:

  • Fish Bowl Bubbler - Free Improvisation

  • George Antheil - An Introduction of Fireworks (1919)

  • Alvin Lucier - Selections from Action Music, book 1 (1962)

  • Mozart Sonata K 282, I. (with improvised cadenza)

• Q and A

oNo NoNo (autumn 2025)

The Liberty; Cork, Ireland. 

• Premiere of SOUND MAGIC for Releasing or Banishing

• Premiere of SOUND MAGIC for Creation

• Curated and led by Lucía Dwyer and Benjamin Burns

THE INCARCERATED MASS PRESCREEN PERFORMANCE (summer 2025)

Theatre Y, 3611 W Cermak; Chicago, IL.

• Nina Svirinovska, director

• Christian Mitchell and Olivia Anton, Clowns

• MAYFIRE, piano

• Priya Fink, flute

• Nico Kyriacou, trombone

• Ricardo Jimenez, trumpet

LECTURE ON NOTHING IN THE PARK (summer 2025)

Jarvis Bird Sanctuary Pavilion; Chicago, IL. 

• MAYFIRE, Performance of Lecture on Nothing (by John Cage)

THIRSTY EARS MUSIC FESTIVAL (summer 2025)

1758 W Wilson Ave; Chicago, IL.

• Kyle Gregory Price, Composer/Vibes

• Lyn Rye, Bass

• MAYFIRE, piano

HOUSE SHOW @ EREZ DESSEL'S (summer 2025)

• Erez and Henry, piano and percussion

• Megan Malachi, poetry

• MAYFIRE, improvised piano

• 20/20 Plastic, sad songs

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC SUMMER CAMP SHOWCASE 2 (summer 2025)

4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL. 

• OTS campers, performance of of Here on Who from Seussical

• De'Jah Perkins, director-teacher

• MAYFIRE, "Who-sic" director and piano accompaniment

BANANA ACID FRUID STAND VARIETY SHOW (summer 2025)

Positive Space Studios, 3520 W Fullerton, Chicago IL.

• Banana Acid, Experimental Jazz

• Christina Sadovnikov, Art Installation

• Magdiel Cents, poetry

• Meghan B. Malachi, poetry

• MAYFIRE, Sonic Clown

• THEMYSTERIOUSBLACKANDWHITEBUTTONBOX

• Sonic Poem: "banananana" for group reading

OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC SUMMER CAMP SHOWCASE 1 (summer 2025)

4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL. 

• OTS campers, performance of of Hard Knock Life from Annie

• De'Jah Perkins, director-teacher

• MAYFIRE, music director and piano accompaniment

HOI POLLOI (spring 2025)

Comfort Station. 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL. 

• MAYFIRE, toy piano and electronics

SONIC TEA PARTY #3 (spring 2025)

Chicago, IL. Southern Sweet Tea, Chamomile, PBR. 

• MAYFIRE: piano, amplified magic eraser

• Chris: vocals

• Emmaline Batemann: watercolor figures

• Brett Mayfield: fiction prose

• Michael Ma (Miss Paprika): vocals, piano

MANA CONTEMPORARY (spring 2025)

Chicago, IL. MAYFIRE, Sonic Clown. 

• MAYFIRE's Pretend Beach 

• Silent Saunter

• Dreamhouse

GRADUATION (spring 2025)

Cork City, Ireland. Mayfire, Master of Experimental Sound Practice

• Everything Beach

• Shadow Puppet Theater

SONIC TEA PARTY #2 (spring 2025)

Chicago, IL. Brazilian Lemonade, Jasmine. 

• Galoure

• BLUE

• MAYFIREMUSIC#418

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY (first winter 2025)

Chicago, IL. Jasmin Bolaños and Tarre Nelson, French Horn(s).

• "four!" from "nine!"

SONIC TEA PARTY #1 (first winter 2025)

Chicago, IL. Yin Hao Jasmine and Chamomile Blend 

• French Bread

• Mushroom Bourgignon

• Red Wine Poached Pears with Whipped Mascarpone

• Sonic Meditation

A NOTHING NIGHT (autumn equinox 2024)

Lakeview, Chicago, IL. Toy Piano, Electronics, Glass Vessel, Throat. 

• 26 THINGS EACH TO BE DONE 26 TIMES

• CREATURE #1

• MAYFIREMUSIC#418

• BOOKSTOBEREADALOUD: PINK BOOK

MAYFIRE’S CAROUSEL (summer 2024)

Welch, OK. Three detuned pianos, radios, vaccuums, wood, etc. 

• CAROUSEL (one performer)

PRIVATE PERFORMANCE at BOSTON UNIVERSITY (summer 2024)

Boston, MA. Piano with Freya Downey (viola).

• MAYFIREMUSIC#55555no.1

• MAYFIREMUSIC#55555no.2

• MAYFIREMUSIC#10:20

• Free Improvisation

THEMYSTERIOUSBLACKANDWHITEBUTTONBOX (spring 2024)

Cork City, Ireland. Piano, Movement, Theater.

• TMBAWBB exhibition

• TMBAWBB city walk

• TMBAWBB piano duet

IMPROVISATIONS AT THE GUESTHOUSE (spring 2024)

Cork City, Ireland. Sounds with Trauma Box Collective, MA-ESP and others.

• Free Improvisation 1hr

• Four6 by John Cage

• Loose structure Improvisation

EXPANDED INSTRUMENT SYSTEM CONCERT (2nd winter 2023)

Cork City, Ireland. Piano and Live Electronics.

• MAYFIRE EIS

SOUND ATLAS FESTIVAL (summer 2023)

Calgary, AB. Logistics with Latitude49 and invited ensembles.

• On-site festival coordinator

PROJECT PAUSE: LOVING AWARENESS (summer 2023)

Norman, OK. Banjo with Freya Downey (viola)  and Victoria Day (cello)

• frétude

• Detuned banjo and cello sounds

THE UN-RECITAL (spring 2023)

Waco, TX. Piano and movement with Eva Clear (narration), Annie (painting), and Brinley (dance)

• Sports et Divertissements by Erik Satie

• Contemplation of the Heights by Olivier Messiaen

• Etudes Australes, II by John Cage

• Selections from Action Music by Alvin Lucier

• Danger Music #17 by Dick Higgins

• Piano Piece 1956a by Morton Feldman

• Sideways by Nahre Sol

• 0’00” by John Cage

• Valse Lente by Germaine Taillefaire

• Corona, II. Study for Intonation by Tōru Takemitsu

• Piano Piece 2016 by Anastassis Philippakapoulos

• Etude No. 1 by Claude Debussy

COMPOSITION RECITAL AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY (spring 2023)

Waco, TX. Percussion with Matthew Templer (human body), Yu-Chien Huang (piano), Freya Downey (viola), Sebastian Penso (flute), Laura Angelone (contra clarinet), Max Winningham (double bass). 

• “nine!”

HOUSE CONCERT AT CONNOR RESIDENCE (summer 2022)

Fort Worth, TX. Solo Muted Piano. 

• Selections from birth cycle

• my fruit is sweet; it decays

MIAMI OKLAHOMA CONCERT (summer 2022)

Miami, OK. Solo Piano. 

• Prelude and Fugue no. 5 in D Major WTC1 by J.S. Bach

• Sonata in A minor K. 310 by W.A. Mozart

• Ballade in F minor Op. 52 by F. Chopin

• Prelude Op. 16 No. 1 by A. Scriabin

• Fantasy Op. 28 in B minor by A. Scriabin

• Selections from happenings

RECITAL AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY (spring 2022)

Waco, TX. Solo Piano.

• Prelude and Fugue no. 5 in D Major WTC1 by J.S. Bach

• Sonata in A minor K. 310 by W.A. Mozart

• Ballade in F minor Op. 52 by F. Chopin

• Prelude Op. 16 No. 1 by A. Scriabin

• Fantasy Op. 28 in B minor by A. Scriabin

• Selections from happenings

RECITAL AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY (spring 2021)

Waco, TX. Solo Piano.

• Lotus Land by Cyril Scott

• Sonata in E-flat, Hob. XVI/52 by F.J. Haydn

• Fantasy in F-sharp minor by F. Mendelssohn

CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT HEWITT (2nd winter 2020)

Hewitt, TX. piano with community musicians. 

• Selections by the Piano Guys 

• Elegy for the Arctic by L. Einaudi

• Original Arrangement of the Polar Express Suite for piano solo

WINTER CONCERT (second winter 2019)

Miami, OK. Solo Piano. 

• Sonata Op. 26 by L.V. Beethoven

• Dumka Op. 59 by P. Tchaikovsky

• Mad Rush by Philip Glass

• The Back Porch, 11 P.M. by MAYFIRE

• Piano Folio … to a disappeared Pleiad by Takashi Yoshimatsu

• Decorations, I. by John Ireland

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR TOUR (summer 2019)

NorthEast Oklahoma and Surrounding Area. Solo Piano and Lecture.

• Hymnological Analysis

• Arrangement of 7 traditionally American Catholic/Baptist hymns

• John 1:11

• Advocacy against religious separatism 

HEPTONIA SECUNDA WORLD PREMIERE (spring 2019)

Waco, TX. with Cellie Buchanan (piano) and Olivia Gorrell (piano).

• Heptonia Secunda Duets by Jody Nagel

MIAMI OKLAHOMA CONCERT (spring 2018)

Miami, OK. Solo Piano. 

• Prelude and Fugue No. 15 WTC1 by J.S. Bach

• Sonata Op. 81a by L.V. Beethoven

• Three Concert Etudes S. 144 no. 3 by F. Liszt

• us, we

• Petrichor