Red Priest

Red Priest

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Red Priest is the only early music group in the world to have been compared in the press to the Rolling Stones, Jackson Pollock, the Marx Brothers, Spike Jones and the Cirque du Soleil. This extraordinary acoustic foursome has been described by music critics as ‘visionary and heretical’, ‘outrageous yet compulsive’, ‘wholly irreverent and highly enlightened’, ‘completely wild and deeply imaginative’, with a ‘red-hot wicked sense of humour’ and a ‘ break-all-rules, rock-chamber concert approach to early music.’

Founded in 1997, and named after the flame-haired priest, Antonio Vivaldi, Red Priest has given several hundred concerts in many of the world’s most prestigious festivals, including the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Moscow December Nights Festival, Schwetzingen Festival, Prague Spring Festival, Bermuda Festival, and in most European countries, Japan, Australia, and throughout North and Central America. The group has been the subject of hour-long TV profiles for NHK (Japan) and ITV (UK) - the latter for the prestigious South Bank Show in 2005, which documented the launch of the Red Hot Baroque Show, an electrifying marriage of old music with the latest light and video technology. Visit website.

Miami String Quartet/Imani Winds

Miami String Quartet/Imani Winds

Thursday, November 6, 2008

MIAMI STRING QUARTET

Praised in The New York Times as having "everything one wants in a quartet: a rich, precisely balanced sound, a broad coloristic palette, real unity of interpretive purpose and seemingly unflagging energy," the Miami String Quartet has quickly established its place among the most widely respected quartets in America. Their diversity in programming, poise in performance, keen sense of ensemble and impeccable musicality has made the Miami String Quartet one of the most sought after quartets in chamber music today. Visit website.

IMANI WINDS

Since 1997, the Grammy nominated Imani Winds has been enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire with European, American, African and Latin American traditions. As their Swahili name Imani ("faith") denotes, the five unabashedly adventurous musicians have followed their mission closely, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with their dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, and inspirational outreach programs. Visit website.

Wells Family

Wells Family Bluegrass Group

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The Wells Family, out of North Carolina, is a band that has created an extremely unique sound that appeals to audiences in every genre, uniting both younger and older generations with their versatility. Their music has been accepted in a variety of music categories including Bluegrass, Gospel, Country, Folk, Americana, and Pop. This band has a powerful acoustic sound, along with great songwriting skills, inspiring accapellas, family tight harmonies, driving instrumentals, and a great sense of humor! Not only are they talented and gifted musicians, they are awesome performers. Visit website.

Ethos Percussion

Ethos Percussion Group with local Afro/American Choir

Friday, March 6, 2009

For more than fifteen years, Ethos Percussion Group has inspired audiences throughout the country with its exceptional music-making and collective devotion to the incredibly diverse world of percussion music. Ensemble members Trey Files, Eric Phinney, Yousif Sheronick and David Shively are accomplished classical and world music artists, each with a distinctive background and musical perspective. Their substantial combined expertise is the source of Ethos' innovative programming, which integrates global instruments and playing styles into the conventions of Western chamber music to create a visually and aurally compelling experience. The ensemble's critically-acclaimed performances regularly feature numerous commissions and world premieres, traditional rhythms from India, West Africa and the Middle East, and landmark works by composers such as John Cage, Lou Harrison and Steve Reich. Visit website.