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The Nouveau Classical Project: Sacred Profane

“Classical music is dead” might seem like an odd slogan for a classical music ensemble, but The Nouveau Classical Project (NCP) has never been much for coloring inside the lines. Throwing away convention and enthusiastically embracing new kinds of audiences, NCP collaborates with designers and thrives at the intersection of fashion and art. Sacred-Profane explores a range of human polarity, pulling at loose strings until it unravels in a fitful explosion of profanity.

Ahamefule J. Oluo: Now I'm Fine

As the star of his own musical autobiography, comedian/musician/storyteller Ahamefule J. Oluo is electrifying. Part experimental pop opera for 17-piece orchestra and part comedic storytelling piece, Now I’m Fine is compellingly energetic, blending original music with darkly comic personal monologues about illness, despair and regeneration. A virtuosic performance by vocalist okanomodé further illuminates this deeply relatable story that ranges from epic to intimate. Oluo’s storytelling was recently featured on This American Life.

Third Coast Percussion

The energy of a rock concert, the sophistication of classical music and the accessibility of interactive technology meet in this high-energy ensemble. With exceptional talent and quirky artistry, they combine the driving intensity of drums, the warmth of marimbas and vibraphones, and the surprisingly exotic sounds of everyday objects to make music that is playful and profound. They’re known for ground breaking collaborations across a wide range of disciplines, including concerts and residency projects with engineers, architects and astronomers.

JACK Quartet

With its straightforward, unpretentious, energetic style, JACK Quartet focuses on the performance of music from new and contemporary composers. It has collaborated with John Luther Adams, Chaya Czernowin, Simon Steen-Andersen, Caroline Shaw and Helmut Lachenmann, among others. 

“The go-to quartet for contemporary music, tying impeccable musicianship to intellectual ferocity and a take-no-prisoners sense of commitment." – The Washington Post

Paul Dresher Ensemble: Schick Machine

A giant motorized hurdy-gurdy, a deconstructed pipe organ and an array of spinning and thrashing metal machines tell a story about a man consumed by a grandiose plan to build a machine that will reconcile his memories of the past with his dreams for the future. Percussionist Steven Schick commands a stage filled with large-scale invented instruments, drawing the audience into a magical place filled with creative potential.

Raphael Xavier: Point of Interest

A self-taught hip-hop dancer and breaking artist, Raphael Xavier has forged an exceptional approach to improvisation-based performance. Drawing from his background as a hip-hop magazine photographer and musician, Xavier confounds and expands the boundaries of dance. Point of Interest, a minimalistic hip-hop piece offering audiences multiple perspectives on the inner workings of dance, crackles with his signature bravado and high-energy physicality.

Quatuor Ebène

Quatuor Ebène’s concerts are marked by a special élan. With their charismatic playing, fresh approach to tradition and open engagement with new forms, these talented musicians have been successful in reaching a wide audience of listeners. Their characteristic style engages a traditional repertoire with a variety of other genres, earning enthusiastic acclaim from audiences and critics alike. 

Jerusalem Quartet

Performing with a unique combination of confident energy and exquisite sensitivity, the Jerusalem Quartet has garnered international acclaim for its rare blend of passion and precision. The group is a record three-time recipient of BBC Music Magazine’s Chamber Music Award for its recordings of Mozart (2012), Haydn (2010) and Shostakovich (2007).

Hiromi: The Trio Project: Featuring Simon Phillips on Drums (cancelled)

Building on a heritage of impressive Japanese jazz pianists, musician/composer Hiromi propels this tradition forward into the future. Since the 2003 release of her debut album Another Mind, Hiromi has electrified audiences and critics around the world with her creative energy. Encompassing and eclipsing the boundaries of jazz, classical and pop parameters, she takes improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication.

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