The Music on the Edge series from the Pitt Department of Music will open its season on Nov. 18 with cellist Raman Ramakrishnan and pianist Thomas Sauer.

The series is devoted to performances of contemporary music by professional musicians. The duo this week will present compositions by Lera Auerbach, Eric Moe, Tania León, Jonathan Chenette, John Taverner, and the world premiere of Harold Meltzer’s “Casa Battló.” The show is at 8 p.m. at the Bellefield Hall auditorium. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and students.

Cellist Raman Ramakrishnan has performed in the United States and abroad with the Horszowski Trio, as a founding member of the Daedalus Quartet, and as an artist member of the Boston Chamber Music Society. Performing as a guest member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Ramakrishnan performed in New Delhi and Agra, India and in Cairo, Egypt. He currently serves on the faculty at Bard College.

American pianist Thomas Sauer performs regularly as soloist, chamber musician and recital partner. A committed teacher, with students at Vassar as well as Mannes College in New York, Sauer was the founder and director of the Mannes Beethoven Institute, a highly regarded week-long summer training program that ran for 15 seasons in New York.

Music on the Edge is co-directed by Pitt music professors Eric Moe, Mathew Rosenblum and Amy Williams. The concerts include visiting artists as well as the Music on the Edge Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Roger Zahab.