The Boise State Department of Music is proud to share exciting news from two of our own. Thirdspace Quartet’s new State of the Art series—a bold initiative spotlighting living composers—will feature the world premiere of a brand-new string quartet by composer and Boise State Music minor and Spanish double-major Jesse Salinas.
Anchored by the theme “People & Place,” this season of State of the Art explores collective and personal identities and the places we call home through the intimate and dynamic lens of the string quartet.
Selected through a call-for-scores competition led by Thirdspace Quartet and in collaboration with the Boise State Music composition program, Salinas responded to the prompt with an original 20-minute, three-movement work inspired by the symbolic and literal significance of one of Boise’s most beloved landmarks: the Boise Depot.
“Jesse is a sharp young musician with a penchant to learn deeply about many facets of humanity,” says Boise State director of bands Dr. Myron Peterson. “His curiosity fuels compositions that resonate with our community—in this case, Boise and our beloved Boise Depot.”
Born and raised in the City of Trees, Jesse Salinas is a versatile composer whose work spans film scoring, big band jazz, digital production, and even double bass quartets about Winnie the Pooh. Deeply influenced by his Mexican-Canadian-American heritage, Jesse’s music reflects a global appreciation for rhythm, melody, and culture. His style blends pop-influenced energy, 19th-century harmonic charm, and an emphasis on emotional accessibility—aiming to connect trained musicians and first-time listeners. Beyond composing, Jesse enjoys exploring nature, volunteering with kids, studying languages, and playing the double bass in groups that include the Boise State Symphonic Winds.
Thirdspace Quartet, founded in part by Boise State Music alum Jake Saunders (MM: Performance, 2015), created this project to spotlight new chamber music emerging right here in Boise.
“We tend to think of string quartets as something of the past—composed only by gentlemen in powdered wigs,” says Saunders, “but chamber music is a living, breathing art form.”
“We were drawn to the concept of Jesse’s composition, which utilizes the Boise Depot as a symbol to celebrate a variety of cultural groups who have emigrated to Idaho and contribute to Boise’s diverse cultural landscape both past and present. ”
Following two in-person workshops with Salinas, the Quartet has refined the commissioned work in collaboration with the composer, ensuring the final piece reflects both professional artistry and student creativity. The project also provides participants with professional audio/video recordings and public performances—resources often out of reach for emerging composers.
In addition to Salinas’s premiere, State of the Art features bold works by contemporary composers:
- Daniel Bernard Roumain: String Quartet No. 5, “to the memory of Rosa Parks and courageous women everywhere”
- Gemma Peacocke: A reflection on the erasure of women from public consciousness
- Shelley Washington: A homage to home and refuge in the American Heartland
- Kevin Puts: Meditations on seeking sanctuary amid crisis
The Department of Music invites the Boise State community—students, faculty, alumni, and friends—to support Jesse Salinas and the incredible work of Thirdspace Quartet at the world premiere performances:
- Friday, May 2, 7:30 PM at The Social on Eighth, downtown Boise
- Sunday, May 4, 2:00 PM at MING Studios, downtown Boise
Together, these works form an “inspiring, intimate, and adventurous” journey through the multifaceted experience of “People & Place” in Boise and beyond.
State of the Art is generously supported by the Idaho Commission on the Arts and the Boise City Department of Arts & History. Tickets and additional event information are available on the Thirdspace Quartet website. Join us in celebrating the vibrant future of chamber music—and the remarkable talents of our Boise State musicians.
