New Music on the Bayou mission: producing professional performances of works by contemporary composers, giving modern music a voice, inspiring communities with fresh ideas about the performing arts. The New Music on the Bayou Summer Festival is a chance for contemporary composers to intersect with professional performers over the course of an intense multi-day event in rehearsals and concerts. Our goal is to inspire the region with new ideas about music and to inspire composers with the unique landscapes and cultural offerings of north Louisiana. Our schedule is designed to create several opportunities for composers to engage with each other, the performers, and our audiences. Our open rehearsal format is intended to give greater insight into the music of the festival, and our attempts to rotate through multiple venues is intended to bring the music to the people of the community and generate interest and attendance at the concerts.