Pascal Le Boeuf_2025-26_Biographies.pdf

Pre-Concert Talks Informative, accessible discussions offering insights into programmed, performed, or newly commissioned works, including background, inspiration, and compositional techniques.Jazz Piano Pop-Ups &amp; Special Events Intimate solo jazz performances tailored to donor events, preview nights, or community celebrations—perfect for enhancing fundraising and engagement efforts.Open Rehearsals with Composer Feedback Opportunities for audiences to attend rehearsals and witness the creative process. Includes real-time feedback on performances of the artist’s work and interactive Q&amp;A with musicians and audience members.Panel Discussions Thoughtful and engaging conversations moderated or joined by Pascal, exploring topics such as the role of technology in music, genre-crossing practices, innovation in composition, or the future of jazz and classical music. Ideal for festivals, academic institutions, or community forums.

Community Engagement

Offerings focus on music composition, improvisation (jazz and classical), rhythm, music technology, and professional development for emerging artists.Lectures &amp; Workshops:<ul><li>Composing with Identity and Narrative</li><li>Advanced Rhythmic Concepts in Jazz and Contemporary Music</li><li>Odd Time Signatures and Metric Modulations</li><li>Music Production for the Contemporary Composer/Performer</li><li>Intersections of Jazz and Classical Composition</li></ul>Master Classes One-on-one or group coaching for composers, jazz pianists, improvisers, and music technologists. Can be tailored to existing curriculum or repertoire.Career Development Sessions Candid conversations about sustaining a creative career, including grant writing, self-producing recordings, web content creation, and building an interdisciplinary artistic identity.1:1 Mentoring and Coaching Personalized feedback sessions for students pursuing classical composition, jazz, or hybrid practices.Collaborative Performances Pascal is available for collaborative performances with student ensembles, faculty, or fellow guest artists—particularly in newly composed or improvisatory settings.

College & University Level

Elementary Level: Fast-paced interactive concerts that introduce musical instruments and jazz improvisation through audience participation. Activities include identifying musical themes, clapping rhythms, or even joining performers on stage.Middle &amp; High School: Engaging sessions for music and arts students that emphasize creativity, listening, and collaboration. Flexible to support general assemblies, classroom visits, or ensemble rehearsals.

K–12 School Programs

Pascal Le Boeuf leads a joyful and interactive introduction to music through storytelling, books, and improvisation. Children explore rhythm, melody, and creativity through call-and-response, movement, and sing-alongs. Stories may include:<ul><li>Charlie Parker Played Be-Bop</li><li>When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat</li><li>Mama Don’t Allow</li></ul>

Pre-K (Ages 3+) – Musical Story Hour

Pascal Le Boeuf—Photos for Public Download.zip

Pascal Le Boeuf

composer, jazz pianist, producer

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Strands Septet–Photos for Public Download.zip

Strands Septet

Akropolis Reed Quintet | Pascal Le Boeuf | Christian Euman

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<h3>Join us in officially&nbsp;welcoming Pascal Le Boeuf to the Ariel Artists family!</h3><hr>Fresh off his Grammy win for Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?, Pascal brings with him an extraordinary catalogue&nbsp;of works, stellar collaborations, and ambitious projects.&nbsp; Pascal's addition to the Ariel roster also marks the official formation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/strands-septet">Strands Septet</a> with Akropolis Reed Quintet &amp; Christian Euman, as well as the revival of his&nbsp;expansive project,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/ritual-being">Ritual Being</a>,&nbsp;with Sara Caswell, Nick Photinos, and Christian Euman.&nbsp; We are thrilled&nbsp;to represent Pascal's forward-thinking artistry and his ever-evolving&nbsp;musical ventures&nbsp;that&nbsp;spark&nbsp;curiosity and invite&nbsp;discovery.&nbsp;<h3 style="text-align:justify;">Pascal Le Boeuf</h3>Described as "sleek, new" and "hyper-fluent" by the New York Times, Pascal Le Boeuf is a GRAMMY-award winning composer, jazz pianist, and electronic artist whose works range from modern improvised music to hybridizing notation-based chamber music with production-based technology.<figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/RC_2442_48_PASCAL_LE_BOEUF_3017_4238cb26b3.jpg"></figure>Recent compositions include “Imprints” for Alarm Will Sound; “Playground” commissioned by Orchestra of St. Lukes; “Triple Concerto” for violin, percussion duo and orchestra featuring Barbora Kolářová and Arx Duo; “I Am Not A Number” commissioned by New World Symphony; and “Out of the Gate” commissioned and premiered by Nu Deco Ensemble.Recent commercial recordings and videos include collaborations with Akropolis Reed Quintet &amp; Christian Euman, Tasha Warren &amp; Dave Eggar, Friction Quartet, JACK Quartet, Hub New Music, Todd Reynolds, Sara Caswell, Jessica Meyer, Nick Photinos, Four/Ten Media, Bec Plexus featuring Ian Chang (of Son Lux), Dayna Stephens, Allan Harris, Linda Oh, Justin Brown, and the Le Boeuf Brothers Quintet (co-led by Remy Le Boeuf) praised by the New Yorker for "clearing their own path, mixing the solid swing of the jazz tradition with hip-hop, indie rock, and the complex techniques of classical modernism".&nbsp;Pascal’s most recent awards include 2025 GRAMMY for “Best Instrumental Composition”, a 2023 Guggenheim Fellowship, a 2020 Copland House Residency Award, and various Independent Music Awards in “Jazz”, “Eclectic”, “Electronica” and “Music Video” categories. Pascal has&nbsp; received commissions and grants from NEA, New World Symphony, Nu Deco Ensemble, the Lake George Music Festival, Lincoln Center Stage, Chamber Music America, New Music USA, and ASCAP. He composed music for the 2008 Emmy Award-winning movie King Lines, and won first place in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition.<figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/476114044_18486357121029538_8927493728201811081_n_f5fe7eab0f.jpeg"></figure>As a keyboardist, Pascal has played as support for D’Angelo’s Black Messiah tour and Clean Bandit’s Rather Be tour with Australian pop artist Meg Mac. He actively performs with Le Boeuf Brothers, Jessie Montgomery’s Everything Band, vocalist/technologist Jamie Lidell, saxophonist Jeff Coffin, jazz vocalist Allan Harris, and his piano trio "Pascal's Triangle".Pascal is currently an Assistant Professor of the Practice of Music and Technology at the Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music, and a Harold W. Dodds Honorific Fellow and Ph.D. candidate in Music Composition at Princeton University.<figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Pascal_Le_Boeuf_Credit_Shervin_Lainez_9_PL_1_2_b2edd80660.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;"><a href="https://mailchi.mp/arielartists.com/pascal-le-boeuf-new-artist-announcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here to preview the official mailing for more information on Pascal Le Boeuf!</a></h3>&nbsp;For more information on Pascal Le Boeuf and his availability, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:eric@arielartists.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Eric Giles</a>.

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GRAMMY® Award-winning, Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?&nbsp; is a “tour-de-force” (I Care If You Listen) of a concert experience that blurs the lines between classical, jazz, and contemporary music, examining what Ralph Ellison calls “the unity of American experience.” With a hybrid ensemble comprised of Akropolis Reed Quintet, pianist/composer Pascal Le Boeuf, and drummer Christian Euman, Le Boeuf deconstructs the fabric of his American experience by recognizing the strands of his musical DNA—Geri Allen, Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, and Leonard Bernstein. What are the strands that form our collective identity, and are we dreaming the same dream?Akropolis became the first ever GRAMMY® winning reed quintet with their 2024 album, Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?, in collaboration with Pascal Le Boeuf and drummer Christian Euman, taking home Best Instrumental Composition for the track "Strands" at the 67th Grammy Awards held in February, 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>"Brilliant writing, exquisitely performed, and ingenuously conceived! Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? is a musical journey that shares a sound world that reveals the deep layers of life experience, and done so in the hands of some real masters of their instruments."&nbsp;</h3>~ Jennifer Higdon, Pulitzer Prize &amp; Grammy Award-Winning Composer&nbsp;<h3>Concert Repertoire</h3>Pascal Le Boeuf – Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? (full septet) 50′Pascal Le Boeuf – Variations on a Mood (Pascal &amp; Christian) 8'George Gershwin arr. Raaf Hekkema – An American in Paris (Akropolis) 18′Geri Allen arr. Le Boeuf – “RTG” (full septet) 5′Charles Mingus arr. Le Boeuf – “Self-Portrait in Three Colors” (full septet) 7′&nbsp;<h3>Watch GRAMMY® winning single, Strands: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9IBnRuLGk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9IBnRuLGk</a></h3>&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://akropolisquintet.org/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/2024_BST_Akropolis_Dream_1500x1500_cover_1_96a806d2cd.jpg"></a></figure><h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>About Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?</h3>“America is woven of many strands; I would recognize them and let it so remain.” Ralph Ellison, from Invisible Man (1952)“If one were to examine [...] the DNA of one’s influences [...] in terms of how the various strands interact to create the artist, one would see how important conflict between strands is.” Bill T. Jones, from Story/Time (2014)"Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?" is an examination of what Ralph Ellison calls “the unity of American experience” and draws upon a selection of my musical “ancestors” — Geri Allen, Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, and Leonard Bernstein — each of whom have historically represented a variety of perspectives concerning the unity of American experience. Following this chain of artistic ancestry leads to Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Aaron Copland, and beyond.This project was prompted by a quote from choreographer Bill T. Jones. When I first worked with Bill in 2014, I was taken by his fearless approach to creating socially engaged art, and the myriad ways in which he married improvised and planned material throughout the collaborative process. That same year, he published Story/Time (Princeton University Press) which examines his artistic relationship to John Cage, whom he both admires and questions.“If one were to examine [...] the DNA of one’s influences [...] in terms of how the various strands interact to create the artist, one would see how important conflict between strands is. I don’t think any artist can come to who they are without experiencing this conflict. [...] In some cases, one has to accept an uncomfortable fit in order to become the artist one truly is.”On a personal level, this music represents my struggle to understand, as Bill puts it, the artist who I truly am, the context in which I exist, and the strands of influence that form my identity. But this work also begs the audience to consider the unity or disunity of their American experience and to examine the strands that contribute to our collective identity, for as Ellison once pointed out, “the most agonizing mystery sponsored by the democratic ideal is that of our unity- in-diversity, our oneness in manyness. American culture is of a whole, for that which is essentially ‘American’ in [that] it springs from the synthesis of our diverse elements of cultural style.”~Program note by Pascal Le Boeuf<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Biographies</h3>Each artist on stage is a powerhouse in their field. Founded in 2009, the Billboard charting, 7-time national prize winning Akropolis Reed Quintet makes music with “infallible musicality and huge vitality” (Fanfare Magazine). Winner of 7 national chamber music prizes including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal, Akropolis has premiered and commissioned over 150 works by living artists and composers. Pascal Le Boeuf is a Grammy-nominated composer, pianist, and producer described as "sleek, new" and "hyper-fluent" by the New York Times. He is widely recognized for his polyrhythmic approach to chamber music and hybridization of disparate idioms. Christian Euman, one of Revive Magazine's "six drummers you should know about," has toured with Jacob Collier, Kurt Elling, Billy Childs, Walter Smith III, and Geoff Keezer, among others. He attended the Thelonious Monk Institute where he studied and performed with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chris Potter, Jimmy Heath, and Stefon Harris.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/AF_690_AE_8_0_DAB_4989_812_D_1_E749_DDC_9_E60_c64e726d7f.jpeg"></figure>

Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?

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Hailed as “sleek, new” and “hyper-fluent” by The New York Times, GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist/composer Pascal Le Boeuf continues to blaze a trail of forward-thinking creativity with his latest project Ritual Being. In realizing bold, hybrid forms of new music and jazz, Le Boeuf surrounds himself with like-minded players of the highest order, including violinist Sara Caswell, cellist Nick Photinos, and drummer Christian Euman to build a program of extraordinary rhythmic urgency, contrapuntal density and breathtaking imagination.&nbsp;Ritual Being draws its distinctive sound from the artistic voices of its members. Violinist and GRAMMY® Nominee Sara Caswell is celebrated for her lyricism and technical facility, praised by the late violin maestro Franco Gulli as possessing “a remarkable understanding of different musical styles and an uncommon power of communication.” Four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning cellist Nick Photinos is among the innovative and multifaceted cellists whose “virtuoso cello playing is scintillating” (Chicago Classical Review). He is an ardent advocate of new music as evidenced by 24 years as the founding cellist and co-Artistic Director of Eighth Blackbird, and by his long list of collaborators which include Björk, Philip Glass, and Sheila Jordan among others. Pascal Le Boeuf is a GRAMMY® Award-winning composer/pianist and Guggenheim Fellow. He is widely recognized for his polyrhythmic approach to chamber music and hybridization of disparate idioms. Christian Euman, one of Revive Magazine's "six drummers you should know about," brings a powerful sense of presence and sensitivity to the group. He has toured with Jacob Collier, Kurt Elling, Billy Childs, Walter Smith III, and Herbie Hancock, among others.&nbsp;Their latest release, Ritual Being, is about the effects of mankind’s behaviors on the planet and each other and has been described as “an album of spine-tingling chamber pieces” (All Music), “gorgeous” (Mercury News), and “experimental” (Downbeat Magazine). Le Boeuf explains, “I’ve always been interested in patterns of human behavior, especially their impact on the environment and society. Some are beautiful, some are not. Some are sustainable, some are destructive. The behavioral tendencies of our species are habits which we’re predisposed to exhibit without conscious effort, but when we intentionally choose our habits and repeat them to serve a goal, they become rituals.” Together, Ritual Being forms a collaborative ensemble defined by bold experimentation, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to expanding the boundaries of contemporary music.&nbsp;<h3>Concert Repertoire:</h3><ul><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Wanderlust" (from "Ritual Being")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Obliquely Wrecked" (from "Ritual Being")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Transition Behavior"&nbsp;(from "Ritual Being")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Calgary Clouds"</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Alpha"</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Variations on a Mood"</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Dedications" (from "Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Ambassadors" (from "Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Walk Downs" 4'&nbsp;(from "HUSH")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Soot" 4'&nbsp;(from "HUSH")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Wedding Planning" 7'&nbsp;(from "HUSH")</li><li>Pascal Le Boeuf – "Monk Circles" 4'&nbsp;(from "HUSH")</li><li>Dave Brubeck arr. Le Boeuf – "Blue Rondo A La Turk"</li><li>Leonard Bernstein&nbsp;arr. Le Boeuf – "Somewhere"</li><li>Meredith Monk&nbsp;arr. Le Boeuf – "Passage"</li><li>Geri Allen arr. Le Boeuf – “RTG” (full septet)</li><li>Radiohead arr. Le Boeuf – Medley: "Knives Out," "Paranoid Android," "Exit Music" 12' (additional selections upon request)</li><li>Various Jazz Standards arr. Le Boeuf (upon request)</li></ul>

Pascal Le Boeuf | Sara Caswell | Nick Photinos | Christian Euman

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Ritual Being

Pascal Le Boeuf Joins Ariel Artists Roster

Akropolis Reed Quintet_2025-26_Biographies.pdf

Winner of the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award, Akropolis has engaged more than 50,000 youth during its 16-year history, including an annual, yearlong residency at three high schools in their home Detroit community. As an independent nonprofit they have received grants from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and many individuals nationwide to support their educational programming, which comprises a noteworthy portion of their activity. At the elementary school level, Akropolis gives fast-paced, interactive concerts that include introductions to each performer and their instruments, plus a Q&amp;A. Certain musical selections include interactions and collaboration with students, who identify elements of the composition or share their observations. At the middle and high school level, Akropolis most enjoys performing for and interacting with students of all musical and artistic disciplines. They prefer engagement directly in the classroom if possible.&nbsp;“I am in awe of your genius in this educational arena and excited for all the young lives that you will impact and change because you are first and foremost extraordinary artists who are bringing that excellence and meticulous preparation and execution to the educational arena.”-Kathy Soroka, Allegheny RiverStone Center for Arts Education

K-12 Education

Akropolis believes that "quality" in classical music comes not only from the technical competency of the performers, but of the relevance an artist creates within their community. To do this, Akropolis engages their communities nationwide through experiences informed by the communities they serve. This includes collaborating with community members on new musical works, including&nbsp;so much more, featuring interviews with local business owners, and&nbsp;Sprocket, featuring a rideable percussion bike created by scrap metal artist, Juan Martinez. They commissioned new work from Detroit poet Marsha Music, and in their travels have performed with guest percussionists in several communities.&nbsp;Akropolis has performed at dozens of workplaces during its Detroit Workplace Concert Series, including hospitals, factories, tech companies, and more. They have performed in juvenile&nbsp;detention centers, homeless shelters, development centers, and senior care centers. They have given dozens of outdoor performances at parks and other pop-up locations, including grocery stores and farmers markets. They have given house concerts, backyard concerts, and concerts on river walks and bike paths.&nbsp; &nbsp;Each concert is custom-designed with community input and shaped to reflect the vibrancy of the community.&nbsp;

A major part of Akropolis' mission is to facilitate the creation of new, vibrant careers in music. Akropolis hosts the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute (ACMI) each summer during which they directly collaborate with early-career instrumentalists and composers to create and record new works. Akropolis has given masterclasses, recitals, career development workshops, and readings of new works at over 50 universities. They have performed alongside collegiate students at certain residencies and offer two concertos for reed quintet and band: "Storm Warning" by Roshanne Etezady and "Un Momento Dado" by Johan De Meij. They especially enjoy conversations about career development, which they facilitate holistically, inviting students to consider the intersections of their personal lives, their careers, and their dreams.&nbsp;Akropolis' university offerings includes:<ul><li>Recitals</li><li>Master classes</li><li>Career development conversations/Q&amp;A's</li><li>Readings of student-composed works</li><li>1:1 mentoring/coaching</li><li>Concerto/other collaborative performances</li><li>Other offerings in collaboration with faculty and students</li></ul>

Career Development Workshops (University)

Akropolis Reed Quintet—Photos for Public Download.zip

Akropolis Reed Quintet

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<h3>Ariel Artists proudly congratulates&nbsp;Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf, and Christian Euman on their incredible GRAMMY win for Best Instrumental Composition with their single Strands&nbsp;from the album, Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?, awarded&nbsp;at last night's&nbsp;67th GRAMMY Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles.</h3><figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/BEST_INSTRUMENTAL_COMPOSITION_2_987a74dc26.png"></figure>&nbsp;Akropolis becomes the first ever GRAMMY® winning reed quintet with their 2024 album, Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?, in collaboration with Pascal Le Boeuf and drummer Christian Euman.&nbsp;Are We Dreaming the Same Dream?&nbsp;is an examination of what Ralph Ellison calls “the unity of American experience.” With a hybrid ensemble comprised of Akropolis Reed Quintet, pianist/composer Pascal Le Boeuf, and drummer Christian Euman, Le Boeuf deconstructs the fabric of his American experience by recognizing the strands of his musical DNA—Geri Allen, Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, and Leonard Bernstein. Learn more about the album <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/akropolis-reed-quintet-announce-6th-album-'are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.&nbsp;Live performances of Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? include University Musical Society, Chamber Music Corvallis at the PRAx Center, and the Williams Center for the Arts.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9IBnRuLGk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Screenshot_2024_04_04_at_14_18_45_41add248f2.png"></a></figure>&nbsp;To book the Akropolis Reed Quintet, please contact <a href="mailto:oni@arielartists.com?subject=Akropolis%20Booking%20Inquiry">Oni Buchanan</a>.&nbsp;

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Akropolis Reed Quintet wins GRAMMY Award for Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? with Pascal Le Boeuf and Christian Euman

Palaver Strings_2025-26_Biographies.pdf

What exactly is “classical” music? Join Palaver Strings for an engaging presentation exploring string music by Bach, Mozart, and Haydn, as well as groundbreaking voices of the modern age. This 45-minute workshop introduces the sounds of the string instrument family (violin, viola, cello, and bass), as well as the diverse voices, eras, and styles under the classical umbrella, with an emphasis on music by women and composers of color. This presentation is designed for grades K-8, with no prior musical experience required.

Outside The Bachs (Grades K-8)

Designed for school orchestra students, this workshop puts Palaver Strings musicians side by side with students, introducing the fundamentals of chamber music and conductorless ensemble playing. We also introduce the concept of improvisation and spontaneity as tools for creative musical expression. This 60-minute workshop is designed for grades 4-12, with some prior string instrument study required. Repertoire will be chosen in consultation with the school’s orchestra director/string teacher and tailored to the age and experience of the students.&nbsp;

SideXSide (Grades 4-12)

Hear the classic story of Ferdinand the Bull with a full string orchestra and narrator! With music by Alan Ridout and text by Munro Leaf, Ferdinand the Bull tells the story of a young bull who feels different from others, and eventually learns to accept himself for who he truly is. This 10-15 minute performance is designed for students age 5-10, with no prior music experience required. Palaver Strings or the host organization may provide a narrator.

Ferdinand The Bull (Ages 5-10)

Join Palaver Strings for an engaging and hands-on experience that empowers students to unleash their creativity! Guided by experienced musicians, participants will explore music through interactive activities such as instrument-making and painting to live music.&nbsp; This multi-sensory approach encourages students to explore and experiment freely. These 45-60 minute workshops can be customized according to age group, with no prior musical experience required. Additional costs for materials may apply, depending on the activities involved.

Touching Sound

Music and emotion are inextricably linked; music evokes a wide range of emotions in listeners, from happiness to sadness to excitement to calm. Join Palaver Strings in an interactive concert of music and emotion through active listening, musical expression, movement, and mindfulness.This 45-minute presentation is designed for students ages 5-9. No prior musical experience is required.

Harmony of the Heart (Ages 5-9)

Creative collaboration brings together people from different backgrounds, skills, and experiences. This 60-minute workshop/performance features Palaver Strings and collaborating artists, and includes a short performance and discussion of musical style, cultural values, power dynamics, and strategies for equitable collaboration across cultures, genres, and artistic disciplines. Examples of collaborating artists include Kinan Azmeh (clarinet/composer/improviser), Heather Stewart (modern dance), Chris Pattishall (jazz pianist), and Lauren Stevens (traditional Wabanaki song). This presentation is designed for students age 8 and up, with no prior musical experience required. Note that this workshop is dependent on the availability of collaborators, must be booked at least one year in advance, and that additional costs for guest artists may apply. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Come Together: Palaver and Friends (Ages 8+)

Palaver Strings—Photos for Public Download.zip

Palaver Strings

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<h2>Akropolis Reed Quintet &amp; Palaver Strings Score Their First Grammy Nominations</h2><hr>Ariel Artists congratulates roster artists <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a> and <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings">Palaver Strings</a> on their nominations for the <a href="https://hellorayo.co.uk/magic-classical/entertainment/music-events/grammys-2025-the-nominations-announced/">67th Grammy Awards</a>. The Akropolis Reed Quintet received a nomination for Best Instrumental Composition, and Palaver Strings for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. The 67th Grammy Awards mark the first Grammy nomination for both ensembles. We are honored to celebrate these extraordinary artists, whose works embody visionary thinking, boundless creativity, authentic curiosity, vivid imagination, and remarkable virtuosity.&nbsp;&nbsp;CATEGORIESBest Instrumental Composition – Akropolis Reed Quintet"Strands" – Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Akropolis Reed Quintet, Pascal Le Boeuf &amp; Christian Euman)Best Classical Solo Vocal Album – Palaver StringsA Change Is Gonna Come – Nicholas Phan, soloist; Palaver Strings, ensembles&nbsp;<hr><h3>To book the Akropolis Reed Quintet and Palaver Strings, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:eric@arielartists.com?subject=Akropolis%20%26%20Palaver%20Booking%20Inquiry">Eric Giles</a>.</h3>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/akropolis-reed-quintet-announce-6th-album-'are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream'">To read more about the album, Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?, click here.</a><figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/akropolis-reed-quintet-announce-6th-album-'are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/2024_BST_Akropolis_Dream_1500x1500_cover_1_c77035bf79.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/palaver-strings-announce-3rd-album:-'a-change-is-gonna-come'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The read more about the album, A Change Is Gonna Come, click here.</a><figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/palaver-strings-announce-3rd-album:-'a-change-is-gonna-come'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_Strings_Album_Cover_3000x3000px_300dpi_V05_020424_1_987b806477.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;<hr><h3>"Ariel Artists shepherds incredible work and is such a touchstone for artists trying to tell impactful stories."&nbsp; –Katie Carroll, Director of Programs, Strings Music Festival</h3>&nbsp;

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A 2025 Grammy nominee, A Change Is Gonna Come&nbsp;provokes conversation, confronts the past and present, and celebrates the act of protest as one of humanity’s most precious rights.&nbsp;Featuring Palaver Strings, Grammy-nominated tenor Nicholas Phan, and jazz vocalist Farayi Malek,&nbsp;A Change is Gonna Come&nbsp;explores our country’s rich legacy of protest songs. Repertoire includes traditional songs of protest and music inspired by social movements and historical events, including Nico Muhly’s Stranger, Akenya Seymour’s Fear the Lamb, and the premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Protest Songs. Read more about the album <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/palaver-strings-announce-3rd-album:-'a-change-is-gonna-come'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>About the Lifesongs Project</h3>To celebrate the album's release, Palaver Strings and Nicholas Phan have launched a 3-day residency project and performance that explores collaborative music-making, storytelling, and protest through song by involving local community members in writing their own stories with Palaver's Lifesongs Project.&nbsp;This 3-day residency will explore the expressive potential of collaborative music-making, storytelling, and protest through song, and how themes of hope and justice can connect us with each other. The project will centre around Grammy-nominated album A Change is Gonna Come&nbsp; while working closely with local&nbsp;community members to write their own stories through the lens of Palaver's Lifesongs Project. Presenters can choose which community, and which members within that community, would benefit most from participating in the Lifesongs songwriting workshop.&nbsp; Examples of communities could include: an LGBTQ group, an Osher lifelong learning group, an Alateen group, a group of inmates pursuing higher education degrees, etc.&nbsp;After a day of songwriting followed by a day of revision/demoing, Palaver and the community songwriters will offer a culminating public performance of the songs, as well as the process-sharing discussion.Day 1:&nbsp;Lifesongs songwriting workshop. Palaver musicians will work with 3-5 members of the community of your choice to write songs about their life stories or issues that are important to them.Day 2:&nbsp; Lifesongs songwriting revision session and creation of take-home demo recordings. Palaver musicians and participating community members will finish the songs and record demo recordings for the community member's&nbsp;personal use.Day 3:&nbsp;Lifesongs live performance and process-sharing session with public audience, followed by a culminating&nbsp;Change is Gonna Come&nbsp;performance by Palaver Strings and Nicholas Phan&nbsp;<h3>A Change is Gonna Come</h3>Repertoire on the album&nbsp;includes traditional songs of protest and music inspired by social movements and historical events, including a new commission by Errollyn Wallen titled&nbsp;Protest Songs, sung by Phan. Eight of the thirteen tracks on the album are heard in arrangements by Attacca Quartet’s Domenic Salerni.The centerpiece of A Change Is Gonna Come is the world premiere recording of Errollyn Wallen’s “Protest Songs”, commissioned for this project in 2021. An award-winning, Belize-born British composer and performer, Wallen herself wrote the text for the first movement, setting the second to a text by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, an abolitionist and one of the first Black poets published in the United States.The album has been nominated for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album for the 67th Grammy Awards.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_Strings_Album_Cover_3000x3000px_300dpi_V05_020424_bbfbf0718e.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;<h3 style="margin-left:0px;">“It has been the greatest privilege to compose for Nicholas Phan and Palaver Strings. I am delighted that my new work,&nbsp;Protest Songs, is included on this important album.”</h3><h3>– Errollyn Wallen</h3>&nbsp;<h3>Repertoire</h3>Nico Muhly – Stranger Roberta Slavitt, Alfred Hayes, Malvina Reynolds, arr. Domenic Salerni – Freedom is a Constant Struggle/I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill/It Isn't Nice Harry Burleigh/ Langston Hughes, arr. Ian Gottlieb – Lovely, Dark and Lonely One Abel Meeropol/Billie Holiday, arr. Jonathan Bingham – Strange Fruit Akenya Seymour – Fear the Lamb Bob Dylan, arr. Domenic Salerni – Blowin’ in the Wind Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, arr. Domenic Salerni – Fiddle and the Drum/Where Have all the Flowers Gone/What Are You Fighting For? Errollyn Wallen – Protest Songs (Project Commission) Sam Cooke, arr. Domenic Salerni – A Change is Gonna Come&nbsp;

featuring Palaver Strings and Nicholas Phan

A Change is Gonna Come Performance and Lifesongs Project

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Akropolis Reed Quintet & Palaver Strings Score Their First Grammy Nominations

Paragon Ragtime Orchestra_2025-26_Biographies.pdf

The Orchestra also creates customized programs for special events, centennials, celebrations, and holidays. With over 20,000 historic scores covering every musical style popular from the Civil War era to the Jazz Age, and with acclaimed American-music expert—and showman—Rick Benjamin in charge, we have the power and experience to custom-build programs especially for your venue, event, or theme. Your imagination is the only limit! Our client list over 30 years ranges from billion-dollar entertainment conglomerates to major performing arts centers and museums to small not-for-profit groups (and everything in-between).

Special Events & Customized Programs

The PRO also offers condensed 50 minute versions of all of the above programs for young audiences in schools; we have different versions of each designed for specific age levels: kindergarten–grade 2, grades 3–5, middle school, and high school students.

Educational Programs for Schools

Paragon Ragtime Orchestra–Photos for Public Download.zip

Paragon Ragtime Orchestra

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<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h2>The 2025-26 Season will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.&nbsp;</h2><h3>This is your golden opportunity to feature programs and projects that celebrate and commemorate&nbsp;America's&nbsp;past, present, and future.&nbsp;</h3><hr><h3>Join us in a grand celebration of innovation with the <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/paragon-ragtime-orchestra" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paragon Ragtime Orchestra</a>, bringing to life the marvels of the Great World's Fairs. Experience the power of protest music with <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Palaver Strings</a>, a tribute to our nation's history of social movements and historical events. Witness the classical and jazz worlds collide with the <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a>, centered around the American identity and the strands that form our collective identity.&nbsp;</h3><figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Screenshot_2024_05_07_at_14_20_43_6bcc27cf02.png"></a></figure><h3>&nbsp;</h3>For more information on our artists&nbsp;and their availability, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto: oni@arielartists.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oni Buchanan</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Meet Me At The Fair! | Music From the Great World's Fairs</h2><hr><h3>“. . . an important American treasure . . . not just a pleasure to hear but for many a true revelation."</h3>– The Wall Street Journal<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/meet-me-at-the-fair!:-music-from-the-great-world's-fairs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/7fac78ea_5954_0613_3a6d_de29e5ac70f7_80ae3c7967.png"></a></figure>Meet Me at the Fair!&nbsp;is a two-hour spectacular musical celebration of the world’s fairs, including the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, the&nbsp;1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (Chicago World's Fair), the&nbsp;1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, and the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Musical “exhibits” rotate, but works by Offenbach, Joplin, Moses-Tobani, and Sousa are the core attraction, performed by Rick Benjamin and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, the official orchestra and conductor of the U.S. Pavilion of the 1992 World’s Fair.<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/meet-me-at-the-fair!:-music-from-the-great-world's-fairs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn more about Meet Me At The Fair! HERE</a>&nbsp;<h3>Paragon Ragtime Orchestra&nbsp;</h3>Now enjoying its 40th season, the <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/paragon-ragtime-orchestra">Paragon Ragtime Orchestra</a> is the world's only year-round, professional ensemble recreating the sounds of early musical theater, "silent" cinema, and vintage dance in America.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>A Change Is Gonna Come</h2><hr><h3>“It has been the greatest privilege to compose for Nicholas Phan and Palaver Strings. I am delighted that my new work,&nbsp;Protest Songs, is included on this important album.”&nbsp;</h3>– Errollyn Wallen,&nbsp;Award-Winning Composer &amp; Performer<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/palaver-strings-announce-3rd-album:-'a-change-is-gonna-come'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_Strings_Album_Cover_3000x3000px_300dpi_V05_020424_1_1d227feaaf.jpg"></a></figure>Three-time Grammy-nominated tenor Nicholas Phan,&nbsp;joins Palaver Strings, a musician-led string ensemble based in Portland, Maine, and jazz vocalist Farayi Malek.<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/palaver-strings-announce-3rd-album:-'a-change-is-gonna-come'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Change Is Gonna Come</a>&nbsp;provokes conversation, confronts the past and present, and celebrates the act of protest as one of humanity’s most precious rights.&nbsp;Repertoire on the album - spanning&nbsp;genres, eras, and movements -&nbsp;&nbsp;includes traditional songs of protest and music inspired by social movements and historical events, including the world premiere recording of a new commission by&nbsp;Errollyn Wallen&nbsp;titled&nbsp;Protest Songs, sung by Phan. Eight of the thirteen tracks on the album are heard in arrangements by&nbsp;Attacca Quartet’s Domenic Salerni.<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/palaver-strings-announce-3rd-album:-'a-change-is-gonna-come'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more about the new album HERE</a>&nbsp;<h3>Performance and Lifesongs Project</h3><hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/a-change-is-gonna-come-performance-and-lifesongs-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/b330939d_ba9e_2abf_20d4_df40dfdc2ece_a9d0d00868.png"></a></figure>This 3-day residency explores collaborative music-making, storytelling, and protest through song, emphasizing themes of hope and justice to foster connection. It celebrates the release of the A Change Is Gonna Come album and involves local community members in writing their own stories with Palaver's Lifesongs Project.&nbsp;Following a day of songwriting and revision/demoing, Palaver and the community songwriters present a culminating public performance and process-sharing discussion.&nbsp;Palaver Strings, alongside Nicholas Phan and Farayi Malek, will come&nbsp;together to perform A Change Is Gonna Come at the&nbsp;Tanglewood Learning&nbsp;Institute&nbsp;performance series, TLI Presents, later this fall.<a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/a-change-is-gonna-come-performance-and-lifesongs-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn more about the project HERE</a>&nbsp;<h3>Palaver Strings</h3><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings">Palaver Strings</a>&nbsp;is a musician-led ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Palaver has made its mark as a forward-thinking ensemble with innovative performances and a community music school.<h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2> Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?&nbsp;</h2><hr><h3>"Brilliant writing, exquisitely performed, and ingeniously conceived!"</h3>– Jennifer Higdon, Pulitzer Prize &amp; Grammy Award-Winning Composer<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/news/akropolis-reed-quintet-announce-6th-album-'are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream'" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/2024_BST_Akropolis_Dream_1500x1500_cover_1_e86450d616.jpg"></a></figure>For their 6th album, the&nbsp;Akropolis Reed Quintet joins forces with Grammy-nominated composer and jazz pianist Pascal Le Boeuf and celebrated drummer Christian Euman.&nbsp;Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?&nbsp;is an examination of what Ralph Ellison calls “the unity of American experience.” With a hybrid ensemble comprised of Akropolis Reed Quintet, pianist/composer Pascal Le Boeuf, and drummer Christian Euman, Le Boeuf deconstructs the fabric of his American experience by recognizing the strands of his musical DNA—Geri Allen, Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, and Leonard Bernstein. What are the strands that form our collective identity, and are we dreaming the same dream?<a href="https://www.brightshiny.ninja/press/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Read more about the new album HERE</a>&nbsp;<h3>Live In Concert Experience</h3><hr>&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-left"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/awdtsd_78dd561bf5.jpeg"></a></figure>Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?&nbsp;is an electrifying concert experience where the classical and jazz worlds collide.&nbsp;Giving themselves complete musical freedom, the powerhouse septet deliver a program of epic proportions, blurring the lines between classical, jazz, and contemporary music.&nbsp;The complete septet came together for the Akropolis's&nbsp;debut on Michigan's esteemed&nbsp;University Musical Society (UMS)&nbsp;performance series last fall.<a href="https://www.brightshiny.ninja/press/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn more about Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? live in concert HERE</a>&nbsp;<h3>Akropolis Reed Quintet</h3>Founded in 2009, the Billboard charting, 7-time national prize winning <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a> is “a sonically daring ensemble who specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity” (BBC Music Magazine).&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on our artists&nbsp;and their availability, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto: oni@arielartists.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oni Buchanan</a>.&nbsp;

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Note: Paragon has one of the world’s largest libraries of historic American orchestral music, and the particular pieces played on each of Paragon’s concert programs are subject to change to reflect this unique resource.Meet Me at the Fair! is a two-hour spectacular musical celebration of the world’s fairs, including the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, and the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Musical “exhibits” rotate, but works by Offenbach, Joplin, Moses-Tobani, and Sousa are the core attraction, performed by Rick Benjamin and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, the official orchestra and conductor of the U.S. Pavilion of the 1992 World’s Fair. Music played a key role in the success of all these international festivals, launching both hit songs and the illustrious careers of many American musicians (including Scott Joplin and Sousa). This new PRO program reunites stirring world’s fair hits with the continuous projections of magnificent fairground images. There is audience participation (on “Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis”), and as a finale, the Orchestra accompanies the Moving Picture Travelogue – historic world’s fair films by Thomas Edison &amp; company. All is propelled forward with evocative narration by conductor Rick Benjamin.&nbsp;Repertoire – curated by Rick Benjamin using original historic orchestra scores from his Collection“unheard since ____" piecesCentennial Hymn - John Knowles Paine (1839-1906)Telephone Galop - Theodore Moses-Tobani (1855-1933)Hail Columbia: Fantasie Brilliante (Op. 184) - Theodore Moses-Tobani (1855-1933)World's Columbian Exposition Waltz - Adelaide Marcelia Glück (1863-1934)Scherzo (orchestral version) - Edward McDowell (1860-1908)The Official Panama-Pacific March - Harry L. Alford (1875-1939)Rediscovered by and exclusively performed by Paragon&nbsp;Swing Along! (orchestral concert version) - Will Marion Cook (1869-1944)Rarely performed but not “lost”La Nuit et L'Amour - Augusta Holmès (1847-1903)The Official St. Louis World's Fair March (excerpt) - Frank Van Der Stucken (1858-1929) FilmThe"Meet Me at the Fair!" performance includes actual moving pictures from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition (San Francisco, 1915) by the Edison, Biograph, and Keystone film companies, featuring 1915 fair music by Sousa, Saint-Saëns, and Louis Hirsch.&nbsp;BiographyParagon came into being as the result of Rick Benjamin's 1985 discovery of thousands of historic orchestra scores once belonging to Victor recording star Arthur Pryor. Since then, Rick has discovered or been gifted thousands more historic scores, making him custodian of the world's largest library of scores from this turn-of-the-20th-century era.

Meet Me at the Fair!: Music from the Great World's Fairs

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America250 | Commemorate this historic milestone

<h2>Palaver Strings joins forces with three-time Grammy-nominated tenor Nicholas Phan and celebrated jazz vocalist Farayi Malek.</h2><hr><h3>Release Date: May 24, 2024 &nbsp; &nbsp;| &nbsp;&nbsp;VINYL &nbsp;<a href="https://www.palaverstrings.org/shop/p/palaver-strings-change-vinyl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HERE</a></h3>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://www.palaverstrings.org/shop/p/palaver-strings-change-vinyl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_Strings_Album_Cover_3000x3000px_300dpi_V05_020424_041bfcabfe.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;<h3>“In an age where it seems like most tech algorithms' primary goal is to provoke anger in order to keep us scrolling on our phones, this program feels important. Music is unique as a form of protest, because, as these songs demonstrate, it has the power to win hearts and minds. Hope for lasting change lies in that special power of song, as does hope for healing and consensus building in this increasingly fractured and fraught time.” - Nicholas Phan</h3>&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;A Change Is Gonna Come&nbsp;provokes conversation, confronts the past and present, and celebrates the act of protest as one of humanity’s most precious rights.&nbsp;Repertoire on the album - spanning&nbsp;genres, eras, and movements -&nbsp;&nbsp;includes traditional songs of protest and music inspired by social movements and historical events, including a new commission by Errollyn Wallen titled&nbsp;Protest Songs, sung by Phan. Eight of the thirteen tracks on the album are heard in arrangements by Attacca Quartet’s Domenic Salerni.To celebrate the album's release, Palaver Strings and Nicholas Phan have launched a 3-day residency project and performance that explores collaborative music-making, storytelling, and protest through song by involving local community members in writing their own stories with Palaver's Lifesongs Project.&nbsp;Click <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/a-change-is-gonna-come-performance-and-lifesongs-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a> to read more about this collaborative performance experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h3>FIRST &nbsp;SINGLE &nbsp;OUT! &nbsp; LISTEN &nbsp;TO &nbsp;JONI &nbsp;MITCHELL'S &nbsp;‘Fiddle and the Drum’&nbsp;</h3><h3>ON <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/fiddle-and-the-drum-arr-for-voice-chamber-ensemble/1733461477?i=1733461482" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">APPLE</a> AND <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/2vaAgbmLAwJiYe1IoVDrn6?si=62114f53101741a7" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SPOTIFY</a> NOW!&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://youtu.be/CTxk7n7OKGE?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Screen_Shot_2024_04_11_at_11_09_58_AM_cb77c8b9a7.png"></a></figure>&nbsp;<h3>Note from Palaver Strings:</h3>"This album has been in the works for several years, and we are thrilled to finally release it into the world. The constant barrage of racial inequalities, environmental degradation, political instability, and war we are confronted with every time we tune into current events can easily leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Protest is a fundamentally hopeful act, which is why it feels particularly important to revisit and reimagine these classic protest songs through a contemporary lens, as both an act of protest, and as a way to imagine a better world."&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h3>“It has been the greatest privilege to compose for Nicholas Phan and Palaver Strings. I am delighted that my new work,&nbsp;Protest Songs, is included on this important album.”&nbsp;</h3><h3>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; - Errollyn Wallen</h3>&nbsp;The centerpiece of A Change Is Gonna Come is the world premiere recording of Errollyn Wallen’s “Protest Songs”, commissioned for this project in 2021. An award-winning, Belize-born British composer and performer, Wallen herself wrote the text for the first movement, setting the second to a text by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, an abolitionist and one of the first Black poets published in the United States.&nbsp;<hr><h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>REVIEWS</h3>&nbsp;“Here’s an entertaining collection of protest songs, old and new. Having them sung by a tenor and string orchestra is a risky prospect on paper; you worry that the originals will be sanitised beyond recognition. Nicholas Phan and Palaver strings avoid the trap: Domenic Salerni’s arrangements are never saccharine.”&nbsp;~Graham Rickson, The Arts Desk<hr>&nbsp;<h2>Biographies</h2>&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://www.palaverstrings.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_PC_Christina_Wnek_54fc8d4f02.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;Palaver Strings&nbsp;is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME, whose mission is to strengthen and inspire community, engage new audiences, address social justice issues, and amplify underrepresented voices through classical music. through music. Each year, Palaver presents over 40 live performances featuring diverse musical programming, cross-genre projects, and community collaborations. Equally committed to education, Palaver offers music instruction to over 325 students per year through the Palaver Music Center in Portland, ME.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="http://www.nicholas-phan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Nicholas_Phan_B_and_W_52fd1cd22b.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;American tenor Nicholas Phan is esteemed for his diverse repertoire spanning 500 years, performing globally with top orchestras and opera companies. He's acclaimed as a curator, serving as the artistic director of the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago and creating programs for WFMT and WQXR. Phan has curated projects for various institutions and served as vocal artist-in-residence at San Francisco Performances. A Grammy-nominated recording artist, he's the first Asian-descended nominee in the Best Classical Solo Vocal Album category's history.&nbsp;<figure class="image image-style-align-center image_resized" style="width:75%;"><a href="https://www.farayimalek.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Najee_Visuals_03_368d675b32.jpeg"></a></figure>&nbsp;Farayi Malek is a jazz vocalist, composer, and educator, teaching at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory.&nbsp;A highly sought-after performer, Farayi is a member of Danilo Pérez’s Global Messengers, performing and recording at festivals and venues around the world.&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;<h2>Palaver Strings' 2025-26 Program Offerings</h2>&nbsp;<h3>Port City ft. Heyni Solera</h3>Pétalo SelserOsvaldo GolijovCarlos Di SarliAnselmo Aieta,&nbsp;Osvaldo PuglieseHeyni Solera,&nbsp;Julián Peralta,&nbsp;Mariano MoresDiego SchissiAstor Piazzolla<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Serenade</h3>Carlos SimonMaurice RavelLaurie Anderson/ J.S. BachJosef SukLaura MvulaGlenn Miller<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Apple of Their Eyes</h3>Maurice RavelJulia PerryClarence White Adolphus Hailstork&nbsp;William Grant Still&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Sinfonia Fantastica</h3>Florence PriceNina ShekharXenia St. Charles Iris LlyllythTeagan Faran&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_May2023_027_1_dbf2510a07.jpg"></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Palaver Strings Announce 3rd Album: 'A Change Is Gonna Come'

<h2>Akropolis Reed Quintet joins forces with Grammy-nominated composer and jazz pianist Pascal Le Boeuf and celebrated drummer Christian Euman.</h2><hr><h3>Release Date: April 26, 2024 &nbsp; &nbsp;| &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brightshiny.ninja/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BRIGHT SHINY THINGS</a></h3><figure class="image"><a href="https://www.brightshiny.ninja/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/2024_BST_Akropolis_Dream_Mockup_76adb6be74.png"></a></figure><h3>“America is woven of many strands; I would recognize them and let it so remain.” Ralph Ellison, from Invisible Man (1952)</h3>&nbsp;Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? is an examination of what Ralph Ellison calls “the unity of American experience.” With a hybrid ensemble comprised of Akropolis Reed Quintet, pianist/composer Pascal Le Boeuf, and drummer Christian Euman, Le Boeuf deconstructs the fabric of his American experience by recognizing the strands of his musical DNA—Geri Allen, Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, and Leonard Bernstein. What are the strands that form our collective identity, and are we dreaming the same dream?<h3>&nbsp;</h3>The complete septet came together for the Akropolis' debut on Michigan's esteemed University Musical Society (UMS) performance series last fall and will be bringing back the monumental project for the Akropolis' 2024/25 season. <a href="https://www.arielartists.com/projects/are-we-dreaming-the-same-dream" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a> to learn more about experiencing Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? live in concert! &nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>FIRST SINGLE OUT! LISTEN TO ‘STRANDS’ ON <a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/strands/1735565590?i=1735566152" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">APPLE</a> AND <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/4C9inpV5aif5fjnXKX2U9D?utm_medium=share&amp;utm_source=linktree" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SPOTIFY</a> NOW!&nbsp;</h3>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9IBnRuLGk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Screenshot_2024_04_04_at_14_18_45_43d8b17af0.png"></a><figcaption><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9IBnRuLGk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Watch 'Strands' on YouTube! Single #1 from Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?</a></figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<h3>Note by Pascal Le Beouf:</h3>This project was prompted by a quote from choreographer Bill T. Jones. When I first worked with Bill in 2014, I was taken by his fearless approach to creating socially engaged art, and the myriad ways in which he married improvised and planned material throughout the collaborative process. That same year, he published Story/Time (Princeton University Press) which examines his artistic relationship to John Cage, whom he both admires and questions.“If one were to examine [...] the DNA of one’s influences [...] in terms of how the various strands interact to create the artist, one would see how important conflict between strands is. I don’t think any artist can come to who they are without experiencing this conflict. [...] In some cases, one has to accept an uncomfortable fit in order to become the artist one truly is.”On a personal level, this music represents my struggle to understand, as Bill puts it, the artist who I truly am, the context in which I exist, and the strands of influence that form my identity. But this work also begs the audience to consider the unity or disunity of their American experience and to examine the strands that contribute to our collective identity, for as Ellison once pointed out, “the most agonizing mystery sponsored by the democratic ideal is that of our unity- in-diversity, our oneness in manyness. American culture is of a whole, for that which is essentially ‘American’ in [that] it springs from the synthesis of our diverse elements of cultural style.”&nbsp;<hr>&nbsp;Are We Dreaming the Same Dream? was commissioned by the Akropolis Reed Quintet with support from the National Endowment for the Arts “Art Works” program, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music Recording Program, the Alice M. Ditson Fund Recording Program, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. This work was completed by Pascal Le Boeuf while in residence at Copland House, Cortlandt Manor, New York, as a recipient of the Copland House Residency Award.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr><h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>REVIEWS</h3>"Brilliant writing, exquisitely performed, and ingenuously conceived! Are We Dreaming The Same Dream? is a musical journey that shares a sound world that reveals the deep layers of life experience, and done so in the hands of some real masters of their instruments."~Jennifer Higdon Pulitzer Prize &amp; Grammy Award-Winning Composer“It is truly one of the greatest releases I’ve heard in years.”~Mark Dover Grammy Award-Winning Clarinetist, Imani Winds“Imaginative rhythmic inventions and distinctly expressive and lyrical use of the winds' colors makes for both super playful and thoughtful listen! Love the drive and character in the performances!”~Curtis Stewart 4X GRAMMY Nominated Violinist&nbsp;and Composer“A great addition to the wind quintet repertoire with fantastic jazz elements. Brilliant and engaging.”~Elaine Martone 5X Grammy Award-Winning Classical/Jazz Producer"Amazing writing and playing."~Rudresh Mahanthappa Jazz Saxophonist Composer and Guggenheim Fellow“I just love the lushness of the wind writing on this album. Before you get too comfortable enjoying the transporting harmonies, the groove takes you into an intricate vortex, ping ponging between the Akropolis adept players always puppeteered by the drums. Le Boeuf draws a delicate balance between homages to his inspirations, and unique writing that leaves selections feeling reassured, then punchy, then ominous, always exploring the wondrous palette of the reed quintet.”~Mariam Adam Clarinetist&nbsp;(founding member of Imani Winds)&nbsp;<hr><h3>Biographies</h3>Each artist on stage is a powerhouse in their field. Founded in 2009, the Billboard charting, 7-time national prize winning Akropolis Reed Quintet makes music with “infallible musicality and huge vitality” (Fanfare Magazine). Winner of 7 national chamber music prizes including the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal, Akropolis has premiered and commissioned over 150 works by living artists and composers. Pascal Le Boeuf is a Grammy-nominated composer, pianist, and producer described as "sleek, new" and "hyper-fluent" by the New York Times. He is widely recognized for his polyrhythmic approach to chamber music and hybridization of disparate idioms. Christian Euman, one of Revive Magazine's "six drummers you should know about," has toured with Jacob Collier, Kurt Elling, Billy Childs, Walter Smith III, and Geoff Keezer, among others. He attended the Thelonious Monk Institute where he studied and performed with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chris Potter, Jimmy Heath, and Stefon Harris.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/awdtsd_d071411ae2.jpeg"></figure>&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Akropolis Reed Quintet Announce 6th Album, 'Are We Dreaming The Same Dream?'

<h2 style="text-align:center;">&nbsp;</h2><h2 style="text-align:center;">Join us in officially&nbsp;welcoming Palaver Strings&nbsp;to the Ariel Artists family!</h2><hr>We are thrilled&nbsp;to represent Palaver's forward-thinking&nbsp;artistry and&nbsp;voice in the performing arts landscape. Explore our preview to learn more about Palaver Strings and their dynamic&nbsp;lineup of programs and projects for the 2024-25 season.&nbsp;<h3>Who Are They?</h3><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings">Palaver Strings</a> is a musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. Founded in 2014, Palaver has established itself as a forward-thinking ensemble whose mission is to strengthen and inspire community through music. In our musician-led model, Palaver’s musicians share artistic and administrative leadership, guided by a passion for engaging new audiences, addressing social justice issues, and amplifying underrepresented voices.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_May2023_087_1fcfb1b832.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;Each year, Palaver presents a full series of live performances featuring diverse musical programming, cross-genre projects, and community collaborations. Equally committed to education, Palaver offers quality music instruction through the <a href="https://www.palaverstrings.org/about-pmc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Palaver Music Center</a> in Portland, serving hundreds of students each year. Palaver has toured widely throughout the United States, performing at the Kennedy Center and a celebration of the Lullaby Project at Carnegie Hall. The ensemble recently released its third album, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6gBlfDrXDHx8SoMiFYqzd8?si=TLJW-xmgR6O2iBeBhfthQw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ready or Not</a>, in partnership with Azica Records. Palaver has enjoyed residencies at Rockport Music, Boston Center for the Arts, Bay Chamber Concerts, and Longy School of Music (2022-2023). Palaver’s current residency at Longy includes regular performances and teaching a graduate course on music and community engagement.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLXexoPbpWz5O6uorZgm3ynVLxAm-5CxHs&amp;v=gkjW4CmSOeU&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arielartists.com%2F&amp;embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arielartists.com&amp;source_ve_path=NzAzNDQsMjM4NTE&amp;feature=emb_title" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Palaver_May2023_030_adbb28d59a.jpg"></a><figcaption><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLXexoPbpWz5O6uorZgm3ynVLxAm-5CxHs&amp;v=gkjW4CmSOeU&amp;embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arielartists.com%2F&amp;embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arielartists.com&amp;source_ve_path=NzAzNDQsMjM4NTE&amp;feature=emb_title" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Watch the Palaver Strings Trailer!</a></figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<h3>“palaver”</h3>“Palaver” comes from the term “palaver hut,” a traditional setting for discussion and conflict resolution found in Liberia and other West African countries. In our early days as an ensemble, we gave benefit concerts for the Liberian Education Fund, an organization co-founded by our Managing Director Maya French, and were inspired by the concept of the palaver hut, as we seek to come to creative agreement when we make music. This concept has remained central to our vision as we expand our outlook to other social causes.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings#section-programs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://mcusercontent.com/2cf7a44ee169236786b861340/images/55b84166-2d5a-9e0e-3e0c-d619deaabf64.png" alt=""></a><figcaption><a href="https://www.arielartists.com/artists/palaver-strings#section-programs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Explore the Palaver Strings 2024-2025 Program Offerings</a></figcaption></figure>&nbsp;<h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3><a href="https://mailchi.mp/arielartists.com/palaver-new-artist-announcement" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here to preview the official mailing for more information on Palaver Strings!</a></h3>&nbsp;For more information on Palaver Strings and their 2024-2025 availability, please contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:matthew@arielartists.com?subject=Palaver%20Strings%20Booking%20Inquiry">Matthew Kulas</a>.&nbsp;

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Palaver Strings Joins Ariel Artists Roster

<h2>Co-Commission a New Triple Concerto</h2>A worldwide celebration is on the horizon! The <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/delphi-trio/">Delphi Trio</a> seeks co-commissioners for&nbsp;a new triple concerto for violin, cello, and piano by Clarice Assad that celebrates the rebirth of cultural life, of connection, of community.&nbsp;It is&nbsp;a&nbsp;21st-century female response to Beethoven's popular Triple Concerto of 1803. The piece will be designed to work either standing alone or as a companion piece to the Beethoven and will have the same instrumentation:&nbsp;soloists plus one flute, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings,&nbsp;plus potentially one extra musician.<h3>Join the Commissioning Consortium</h3>The commissioning consortium is led by the San José Chamber Orchestra (SJCO)&nbsp;and Maestra Barbara Day Turner; each co-commissioner is asked to contribute $5,000 toward the composer’s fee and copying costs.&nbsp;The SJCO will give the world premiere of the work on Sunday, March 20, 2022. The work is proprietary in performance to co-commissioners and the Delphi Trio for spring 2022 and fall 2023. Please <a href="mailto:matthew@arielartists.com?subject=Delphi%20Trio%E2%80%94Clarice%20Assad%20Commission">email</a> Matthew Kulas to inquire about co-commissioning the Assad Triple Concerto.<figure class="image"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Assad_Clarice_Photo_by_Cynthia_Van_Elk_2_1_1024x681_25e62feab3.jpg"></figure><h3>About Clarice Assad</h3>A powerful communicator renowned for her musical scope and versatility, Brazilian-American Clarice Assad is a significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop, and jazz genres, renowned for her evocative colors, rich textures, and diverse stylistic range. A prolific Grammy-nominated composer, with over 70 works to her credit, her work has been commissioned by internationally renowned organizations, festivals, and artists, and are published in France (Editions Lemoine), Germany (Trekel), Criadores do Brasil (Brazil), and in the US by Virtual Artists Collective Publishing. Ms. Assad has released seven solo albums and appeared on or had her works performed on another 30. Her music is represented on Cedille Records, SONY Masterworks, Nonesuch, Adventure Music, Edge, Telarc, NSS Music, GHA, and CHANDOS. As an innovator, her award-winning Voxploration Series on music education, creation, songwriting, and improvisation has been presented throughout the United States, Brazil, Europe, and the Middle East. With her talents sought-after by artists and organizations worldwide, the multi-talented musician continues to attract new audiences both onstage and off.<h3>About the Delphi Trio</h3>The <a href="https://www.delphitrio.com">Delphi Trio</a> is recognized for commanding, compelling performances that draw audiences into their musical world. The Trio prioritizes unity, artistry, vulnerability, and musical risk-taking, creating performances that are infused with spontaneity, humor, and joy. Founded on the principles of community, connection, and artistry, Delphi believe firmly in art’s ability to make a difference in the world and are committed to using their musical platform to bring people together, regardless of background or beliefs. Comprised of three strong women, Delphi Trio works to highlight the presentation of works by female composers alongside the classic piano trio repertoire. Violinist Liana Bérubé, cellist Tanya Tomkins, and pianist Allegra Chapman are based in the San Francisco Bay Area.To inquire about joining the commissioning consortium&nbsp;or to learn more about the&nbsp;<a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/delphi-trio/">Delphi Trio</a>, please email Artist Representative, <a href="mailto:matthew@arielartists.com?subject=Delphi%20Trio%E2%80%94Clarice%20Assad%20Commission">Matthew Kulas</a>.

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Worldwide celebration is on the horizon! The Delphi Trio is pleased to invite co-commissioners&nbsp;to join in creating a new triple concerto for violin, cello, and piano by Clarice Assad celebrating the return of cultural life and connection. The piece will be designed to work either standing alone or as a companion piece to the Beethoven&nbsp;Triple Concerto - a 21st century female response to the famous party piece of 1803.&nbsp;Instrumentation will be the same as in the Beethoven (three soloists plus one flute, two oboes, two&nbsp;clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings) plus one percussionist.Tentatively titled "The Tale of Mélusine", the new work will follow the medieval French legend of a half-fairy woman betrayed by her mortal husband. The Concerto is 23-25 minutes in length and is performed without breaks between movements.The concerto will be premiered in March, 2022 and will be proprietary in&nbsp;performance to Delphi Trio for one year following the premiere; it will be proprietary in recording&nbsp;to Delphi Trio for two years following the premiere. The commissioning consortium is led by the&nbsp;San José Chamber Orchestra and Maestra Barbara Day Turner; each co-commissioner will&nbsp;contribute $5,000 USD toward the composer’s fee and copying costs.&nbsp;About Clarice AssadA powerful communicator renowned for her musical scope and versatility, Brazilian-American Clarice Assad is a significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop, and jazz genres, renowned for her evocative colors, rich textures, and diverse stylistic range. A prolific Grammy-nominated composer, with over 70 works to her credit, her work has been commissioned by internationally renowned organizations, festivals, and artists, and are published in France (Editions Lemoine), Germany (Trekel), Criadores do Brasil (Brazil), and in the US by Virtual Artists Collective Publishing. Ms. Assad has released seven solo albums and appeared on or had her works performed on another 30. Her music is represented on Cedille Records, SONY Masterworks, Nonesuch, Adventure Music, Edge, Telarc, NSS Music, GHA, and CHANDOS. As an innovator, her award-winning Voxploration Series on music education, creation, songwriting, and improvisation has been presented throughout the United States, Brazil, Europe, and the Middle East. With her talents sought-after by artists and organizations worldwide, the multi-talented musician continues to attract new audiences both onstage and off.

Delphi Trio

Clarice Assad Triple Concerto

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Delphi Trio to Commission Clarice Assad Triple Concerto

Tesla Quartet_2023-24_Biographies.pdf

A passion for education has been a cornerstone of the Tesla Quartet's mission since the group started in 2008. The Tesla Quartet offers a variety of programs for students and community members of all ages that are designed to inspire a love for music and a deeper understanding of the great works in the repertoire.For more information, visit <a href="https://www.teslaquartet.com/education.">https://www.teslaquartet.com/education.</a>&nbsp;

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLThe Tesla Quartet's 40-minute presentation for grades K-5 focuses on an introduction to string instruments and the fundamentals of making music as a group. Depending on the size and age of the audience, our program may include the following topics:<ul><li>An introduction to the instruments: "Show and Tell"</li><li>Music as a type of “language”</li><li>“Let's make a musical sandwich!”</li><li>Music and Color</li></ul>&nbsp;MIDDLE SCHOOLThe Tesla Quartet can work with your school's string students in a number of fashions, including:<ul><li>Coaching a string ensemble</li><li>Giving individual lessons</li><li>Sitting in with the orchestra in rehearsal or in concert</li><li>Performing a string quartet for the class and discussing the history of the music and our mindset as performers</li></ul>&nbsp;HIGH SCHOOLString Ensemble CoachingMore advanced string students can benefit greatly from the Tesla Quartet's guidance on stage or in the classroom. Quartet members can work with string students in:<ul><li>Chamber music coaching</li><li>Orchestra coaching</li><li>Sectional coaching</li><li>How to fit practicing into your busy schedule</li></ul>College Audition PreparationFor students who are seriously considering studying music in college, the Tesla Quartet can facilitate discussions on topics such as:<ul><li>How to choose a school</li><li>How to find a teacher who is the right match</li><li>How to prepare for an audition</li><li>What to expect from a serious musical education</li></ul>School-wide Assembly: Music in ContextThe Tesla Quartet also offers programs that are part performance, part discussion, featuring a complete work for string quartet. Past presentations have featured works by Shostakovich, Janáček, and Kevin Puts, with a focus on the historical, literary, or social context.Year-long ResidencyThe Tesla Quartet can plan three-day visits in the fall and spring semesters where they work with students on pre-selected repertoire, culminating in a performance with the Tesla Quartet joining the student ensemble.

K-12 Programs

CURATION &amp; COLLABORATIONRecital SeriesThe Tesla Quartet will present a specially curated series of concerts over the course of a week, semester, or year, focusing on a specific composer or musical theme. Examples could include:<ul><li>The complete Bartók quartets</li><li>The complete Opus 20 quartets of Joseph Haydn</li><li>Compositional trends in the 21st Century</li><li>"Late Style" in composition</li></ul>Lecture RecitalFor a more intimate and in-depth exploration of a single piece of music, the Tesla Quartet will discuss the history, analysis, and their unique interpretation of a work from its repertoire. The audience will be invited to join in the discussion with questions.Faculty &amp; Student CollaborationWith enough lead time to rehearse, the Tesla Quartet will expand its forces to collaborate with students faculty in&nbsp;larger works of chamber music that could appear on the quartet's full recital.<h2 style="margin-left:0px;">&nbsp;</h2>CHAMBER MUSICMaster ClassesStudent chamber music groups are invited to present a single movement or complete work in public performance and receive feedback from members of the Tesla Quartet. Topics the Tesla Quartet likes to focus on include conveying the character of the music, historical approaches to style, and how to be open and engaged with your partners.Ensemble CoachingFor residencies of more substantial length, members of the Tesla Quartet can provide multiple coachings to chamber music groups that are able to rehearse frequently and incorporate coaching ideas into their development, whether it is over the course of a week or a semester.Discussion on the Art of Ensemble PlayingWhile music students are often taught to focus on the technical aspects of their individual playing, a solid instrumental foundation is not enough to achieve success as an ensemble. The Tesla Quartet will lead a discussion with students and faculty about what it means to play chamber music, how to give and receive criticism, and address ideas such as openness, awareness, and empathy.&nbsp;COMPOSITIONStudent Composition WorkshopsThe Tesla Quartet is committed to fostering the growth of young composers. The quartet can host reading sessions for students' string compositions and provide feedback in areas of technique, balance, notation, and score preparation.Performance &amp; RecordingWith enough lead time, the Tesla Quartet will prepare a selection of student compositions for performance, with the option to produce a live recording of the performance. If the school is equipped with the appropriate space and equipment, the Tesla Quartet can also record selected student works in a studio-like session.&nbsp;ORCHESTRAOrchestra Coaching &amp; Side-By-Side PerformanceMembers of the Tesla Quartet have a wealth of orchestral experience as performers from full size groups like the Cleveland Orchestra to small, self-conducted chamber orchestras like A Far Cry and The Knights. The quartet can provide coaching for string sections and even sit in with the orchestra for rehearsals or performances.Self-Conducted Chamber OrchestraThe Tesla Quartet believes that the principles of chamber music can apply to any ensemble, no matter its size. For a residency of significant length, the quartet can lead a self-conducted chamber orchestra of advanced students, with regular rehearsals leading to a performance.Audition PreparationCompetitions and orchestral auditions can play a big part in the careers of young performers, and there is an art to successfully navigating the rigorous demands of these performances. Through coachings or master classes, the Tesla Quartet can provide feedback on orchestral excerpts and guidance on choosing repertoire,&nbsp;practice routines, and how to manage audition day.&nbsp;CAREERSEntrepreneurship WorkshopsWith such a varied professional landscape ahead of them, many music students wonder how they will carve out their career path after graduation. Whether through round table discussions or workshops, the Tesla Quartet can address topics like grant writing, ensemble management, artistic vision and planning, fundraising, social media and engaging with your community.

University Programs

<blockquote>“I am impressed with the group’s ability to both play and interact well with students. They used effective questioning, seemed to know what was developmentally appropriate for children in second grade, and reinforced great vocabulary. Oh, and they are amazing musicians as well!”</blockquote>— Dr. Jennifer Griffin, Principal, Oakwood Elementary School, Hickory, NC<blockquote>“I loved witnessing the diversity of experiences of professional classical musicians, looking at different avenues after graduation. Additionally, I have tremendously enjoyed being able to hear such an exceptional quality of music being performed here and being able to interact with the quartet members informally and as part of our academic courses.”</blockquote>— Undergraduate music student, Mount Allison University<blockquote>“Classroom visits have been incredibly useful this term, and the members of the quartet have been so generous with their feedback on student compositions-in-progress. The members of the quartet are able to work with students at their varied, individual levels of ability while at the same time pushing students toward greater musical excellence and creativity. My students have definitely produced stronger work than usual this year due, in large part, to the feedback and inspiration they have received from the quartet.”</blockquote>— Kevin Morse, Professor of Composition, Mount Allison University

Testimonials

Tesla Quartet—Photos for Public Download.zip

Tesla Quartet

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“I love these sessions. It's really wonderful to have the opportunity to watch you do this work, and hear your thought processes. I hear and feel the things you're talking about come out in the music, and it's very enlightening (and beautiful).”—Sean<h2>Immerse yourself with the <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/tesla-quartet/">Tesla Quartet</a>&nbsp;as they explore Béla Bartók's six monumental string quartets&nbsp;for the first time.</h2><figure class="image"><a href="https://youtu.be/fWjCPSTjWpw?t=1083" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Bartok_Livestream_2536fe57b7.png"></a></figure>&nbsp;<h3>Adopt a Bartók Quartet</h3>Join the <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/tesla-quartet/">Tesla Quartet</a> this spring on an extraordinary journey! For any concert presenters seeking virtual programming through June 2021, we offer an exclusive invitation from the Tesla Quartet, who have mapped out a deeply personal&nbsp;journey for audience members to learn the six Bartók Quartets alongside them.&nbsp;We are looking for presenters who would each like to adopt a Bartók Quartet and give their community this exclusive learning experience. After a wonderfully successful installment of the first three&nbsp;Bartók Quartets—sponsored by Friends of Chamber Music&nbsp;Troy and the Grand Valley State University&nbsp;Department of Music—we are looking for presenters who would each like to adopt one of the final three&nbsp;Bartók Quartets&nbsp;and give their community this exclusive learning experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Check out the audience responses below:&nbsp;<hr>“Thank you for inviting your listeners and fans to participate with you. All three of the guest speakers (and your performances, of course) have been wonderful.”&nbsp;—Anonymous"I found the commentaries the most valuable; they illuminated the road Bartók took, and thus the music. Can I comment as well? the playing of the Tesla Quartet is extremely elegant and these quartets were performed beautifully."—Jim"It was exciting to hear a young quartet, relatively speaking, be so enthusiastic about Bartok's quartets. I also learned more about Bartók's life and approach to composing from the guest speakers. The open rehearsals were exciting to see and hear what aspects of the music you go over when actually rehearsing together. Also interesting to hear how musicians try to convey aspects of playing specific music in words."—Sally<hr><h3>&nbsp;</h3><h3>Each Bartók Week</h3>In the Tesla Quartet’s six week Bartók-fest, they are exploring&nbsp;how this music sways their innermost passions, to a depth and at a pace designed to entertain, inform, and engage their listeners. Each week focuses on a single quartet and consist of the following:<ul><li>Day 1 –&nbsp;Live&nbsp;Conversation with an&nbsp;expert:&nbsp;Guests to include:&nbsp;Nicholas Kitchen, first violinist of the Borromeo Quartet; Hungarian violinist Károly Schranz, founding member of the Takács Quartet; and celebrated composer Gabriel Lena Frank.</li><li>Day 2 –&nbsp;Live Open Rehearsal:&nbsp;A behind the scenes look at the Tesla Quartet's rehearsal process.</li><li>Day 3 –&nbsp;Live&nbsp;Performance:&nbsp;The week’s activities will culminate in a live-stream performance of one of the string quartets.</li><li>Audience Participation: Each session will include a Q&amp;A session for the audience to engage with the ensemble and its guests.</li></ul>&nbsp;Dates: May 26-29 – String Quartet No. 4 June 2-5 – String Quartet No. 5 June 9-12 – String Quartet No. 6 &nbsp;<h3>Sponsorships &nbsp;Available!</h3>Each week is sponsored by a performing arts organization from across the United States. For a $5,000 sponsorship, patrons of the sponsoring organizations will receive a subscription for the entire series and will have VIP access to the Q&amp;A sessions and prizes for the sponsored week.&nbsp;&nbsp;<hr>"I've never really enjoyed Bartók. Though I have more recordings of B's quartets than any other, so I guess I have been looking for a way in. The talks with Bartók experts have REALLY helped."—Gary "Sooo good!! I don't know why such dissonance brings me so much joy lol. That last movement is incredible and really ties it all together. Much love Tesla Quartet!"—Doug "This is a wonderful performance, it has it all: lyricism, dance rhythms, unabashed enjoyment of the dissonances, thank you so much. I plan to listen to it often."—Sonia<hr>&nbsp;To inquire about sponsorship or to learn more about the <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/tesla-quartet/">Tesla Quartet</a>, please email Artist Representative, <a href="mailto:matthew@arielartists.com?subject=Tesla%20Quartet%20Bartok%20Inquiry">Matthew Kulas</a>.

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Tesla Quartet: A Bartók Journey

<h3>Ghost Light (def.)&nbsp;</h3>"a small, single bulbed light, usually a floor lamp of some sort, that shines on the dark stage throughout the night when the theater is closed and unoccupied."—Onstageblog.com<hr>&nbsp;The <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet/">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a>'s 4th album,&nbsp;<a href="https://arielartists.com/interdisciplinary-projects/ghost-light/">Ghost Light</a>, released on April 9, 2021 and already hailed by&nbsp;The Wire (U.K.) as "audibly driven by real excitement and a sense of adventure," is now available as a touring program specifically designed to aid presenters in creatively reopening their venues to live audiences with an intentional sense of community. The event will be staged by the Akropolis with intimate lighting and include a ghost light from the presenting venue, or another in the community.<figure class="image"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0WsLf8_hGU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://d2k153re4i383a.cloudfront.net/Akropolis_Ghost_Light_Playing_1_f896b18e70.jpg"></a></figure>&nbsp;<a href="https://arielartists.com/interdisciplinary-projects/ghost-light/">Ghost Light</a>&nbsp;is a meditation on life, death, and rebirth&nbsp;"performed with faultless detail and refreshing artistry" (I Care if You Listen).&nbsp;It&nbsp;shines a light on the ghosts all around us and grapples with the issues of mortality and our personal and collective history. The concert program includes selections from the&nbsp;<a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet/">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a>'s&nbsp;fourth album,&nbsp;<a href="https://akropolisquintet.org/ghostlight/">Ghost Light</a>&nbsp;on New Focus Recordings, including 2018 Pulitzer Prize finalist, Michael Gilbertson, and 2019 Academy of Arts and Letters Award recipient, Stacy Garrop. A masterwork by Jeff Scott telling the history of three razed Black Detroit neighborhoods is accompanied by new poetry written by Detroit historian and author, Marsha Music.&nbsp;<h3>Pure Gold</h3>Celebrating their 12th year and hailed by Fanfare Magazine for their “imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality,” the <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet/">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a> was founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan and has won seven national chamber music prizes including the Fischoff Gold Medal and Fischoff Educator Award. The San Francisco Chronicle dubbed the Akropolis’s third album release,&nbsp;The&nbsp;Space Between Us, “pure gold.”&nbsp;To inquire about <a href="https://arielartists.com/interdisciplinary-projects/ghost-light/">Ghost Light</a> or to learn more about the <a href="https://arielartists.com/artists/akropolis-reed-quintet/">Akropolis Reed Quintet</a>, please email Artist Representative, <a href="mailto:matthew@arielartists.com?subject=Akropolis%20Reed%20Quintet%20Inquiry">Matthew Kulas</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Akropolis Reed Quintet: Ghost Light

<h2>A Call for the Best Artistic Ideas in Classical Music, Focusing on Relevance, Innovative Power, Inclusive Dialogue, Diverse Participation, and Positive Impact&nbsp;</h2><a href="https://arielartists.com/">Ariel Artists</a>&nbsp;announces a new, annual “innovation competitions” format, launched through its innovation platform,&nbsp;<a href="http://arielavant.org/">Ariel AVANT: Connect Forward</a>. The competitions function as an open invitation to classical musicians and chamber ensembles to push forward the evolution of classical music as an art form, with concert presenters, industry thought leaders, and Ariel Artists roster artists all joining forces to identify best ideas in the marketplace and reward them with development time, commissioning support, and performance opportunities. AVANT takes the competition beyond artistic mastery, focusing on relevance, innovative power, inclusive dialogue, diverse participation, and positive impact as metrics of excellence.Ariel Artists founder&nbsp;Oni Buchanan&nbsp;explains, “I founded Ariel Artists in 2009, as a pianist and poet interested in contemporary music and interdisciplinary performance. As a young, unknown artist engaged in non-traditional performance endeavors, I booked concerts for myself from 2003 to 2013, honing my strengths of programming curation, recontextualizing canonical works alongside contemporary repertoire, creating interdisciplinary collaborations, and offering performance residencies. Through those efforts, I built a machine whose infrastructure I realized I could leverage to represent a full roster of artists pursuing innovative work and seeking to engage with communities of people. My impact would be exponentially greater than anything I could achieve as a soloist.Now in its 11th year, Ariel has built wonderful partnerships with artists, concert presenters, and thought leaders across our industry who share our core values of innovation, interdisciplinary connection, and ongoing, participatory dialogue across diverse communities of people. I therefore find myself in the fortunate position of being able to put out a call for ideas to the larger classical music ecosystem, and having a community of support ready to join the initiative. I’m excited to offer the Ariel AVANT platform as a way to invite and reward the best ideas, to facilitate development opportunities for artists creating innovative projects, and to bring people together across our industry to put momentum behind the evolution of classical music as an art form. This is truly an ‘everyone wins’ opportunity, and I am immensely grateful for the participation of our visionary colleagues for whom I have such enormous respect.”&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://arielavant.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/UN_Sustainable-Development-Goals.jpg" alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is UN_Sustainable-Development-Goals.jpg"></figure>The initial Ariel AVANT competition category will be&nbsp;Impact Performance, with an application deadline of June 1, 2020. The&nbsp;Impact Performance&nbsp;prize goes to the most compelling interdisciplinary and/or multimedia performance designed to generate productive conversation and offer positive means of action addressing a social justice issue, particularly one related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/">United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)</a>&nbsp;prioritized to be achieved by 2030. Applying artists should also propose one or more new works (of at least 10 minutes total) which will be commissioned for the performance itself and integral to its implementation.<hr><h3>Competition Guidelines</h3>In an effort to mitigate implicit bias, the competition will be judged by three tiers of judging panels made up of varying ratios of concert presenters, industry thought leaders, and Ariel roster artists, all from diverse backgrounds. The best ideas win, with four levels of recognition:&nbsp;Grand Prize Winner, Second&nbsp;and&nbsp;Third Place&nbsp;winners, and a&nbsp;Heart&nbsp;winner, an honorable mention for a proposal “with heart.” The grand prize includes a $20,000 touring fund to support five performances with paired engagement events, a $10,000 development and commissioning fund, and a two-week incubation residency for beta testing at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Second and third prizes are honorariums of $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. &nbsp; The AVANT competitions are open to classical music soloists and chamber ensembles of every background, regardless of age, ensemble instrumentation, race, gender identification, sexual orientation, or any other factor.&nbsp; &nbsp; The only eligibility requirements to apply are the following:<ul><li>An active performance history of at least two years</li><li>Established membership of at least two years (in the case of chamber ensembles)</li><li>The total number of touring artists/collaborators (including accompanying technicians) must range from 3-6 people</li><li>Applicants must be able to tour in the United States during the Grand Prize touring period (approximately September through December 2021)</li><li>Commissioned works must be completed and delivered to artists/collaborators well in advance of the Grand Prize touring period</li></ul><h3><a href="http://arielavant.org/competition/impact-performance">FULL COMPETITION GUIDELINES</a></h3>&nbsp;<h3>Impact Performance Competition Timeline:</h3><ul><li>Applications Due:&nbsp;June 1, 2020</li><li>Semi-Finalists Announced:&nbsp;July 2020</li><li>Finalists Announced:&nbsp;August 2020</li><li>Grand Prize Winner Announced:&nbsp;September 2020</li><li>Approximate Touring Period:&nbsp;September – December 2021</li></ul><h3><a href="https://arielartists.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=2cf7a44ee169236786b861340&amp;id=cbb5deecfb">SIGN UP FOR THE AVANT MAILING LIST TO RECEIVE COMPETITION NOTIFICATIONS HERE!</a></h3>

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