Upcoming Events: October in Michigan
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Guest artists Andrew Bishop and Andrew Rathbun
PRISM Quartet and Saxophonist Andrew Bishop Play Ann Arbor, October 16
The PRISM Quartet returns to Ann Arbor, where it was founded more than 30 years ago, for a concert featuring music by several award-winning Michigan composers: Kristin Kuster (University of Michigan), Alexis Bacon (Michigan State University), and Christopher Biggs (Western Michigan University). The program includes the world premiere of Biggs’ “Surfaces and Essences” and a performance of “Forbidden Drive,” a new work by Pew Fellow and PRISM’s resident composer, Matthew Levy. “Forbidden Drive” spotlights guest saxophonist Andrew Bishop (University of Michigan). PRISM will also present an adaptation of “Fearful Symmetries” by Pulitzer Prize-winner John Adams from the Quartet’s just released “Paradigm Lost” album (XAS Records). Plus, one of PRISM’s favorites, “Night Music,” by rising star Emma O’Halloran. Tickets are on sale now!
October 16, 2017 @ 7:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor
1432 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Click here for tickets and concert information.
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Composers Anna Weesner, Emma O'Halloran, Alexis Bacon, Christopher Biggs, Kristen Kuster, John Adams, William Bolcom, and Julia Wolfe
PRISM Quartet in Residence at Western Michigan University, October 13-15
From October 13-15, the PRISM Quartet conducts an extensive residency program at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, featuring a masterclass, student composer reading, seminars on "Recording and Technology" and "Starting Your Own Record Label," a recital featuring WMU saxophone professor Andrew Rathbun, and a performance with the WMU Symphony Band under Scott Boerma of William Bolcom's "Concerto Grosso," commissioned by PRISM and premiered with the Detroit Symphony in its original orchestral version in 2000. WMU performances are free and open to the public. Click below for more information.
PRISM Quartet and Andrew Rathbun at Western Michigan University
October 14, 2017 @ 8:00 PM
Dalton Center Recital Hall
Van De Giessen Rd #3001, Kalamazoo, MI 49006
PRISM Quartet with WMU Symphonic Band: William Bolcom’s “Concerto Grosso”
October 15, 2017 @ 3:00 PM
Miller Auditorium, Western Michigan University
2200 Auditorium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
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Residency and Recording in Michigan
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Damien Crutcher
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In partnership with Damien Crutcher, Founding CEO of Crescendo Detroit, and Kevin Karr, District Coordinator at Ann Arbor Public Schools, PRISM returns to several schools for educational programs in Detroit and Ann Arbor next month. PRISM's Southeastern Michigan outreach programming has served over 3,000 students since it was initiated 2015. According to Crutcher, “Our motto is ‘Building character through music.’ One of our major goals is to regularly expose our kids to the best artists possible. We believe if they can see it, they can be it, which is why we are beyond excited to have the PRISM Quartet in residence with us here, in the heart of Detroit.”
PRISM will also spend a chunk of time in the University Michigan's Stamps Auditorium to record works by Anna Weesner, Kristin Kuster, and Emma O'Halloran for an upcoming release on XAS Records that includes past PRISM commissions from Steven Mackey and Julia Wolfe.
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Peter Witte Joins PRISM Quartet's Board
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We're proud to announce that Peter Witte has joined the board of directors of the PRISM Quartet's nonprofit organization. A tireless advocate for entrepreneurship and diversity in the musical arts, Peter is nationally recognized for his work as an administrator, conductor, and French hornist. He is a fellow University of Michigan alumnus, and has been a friend to PRISM for more than a decade. We're thrilled that he will help to shape the ensemble's future.
Something About Peter: Peter is the newly appointed Dean of the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific. He previously served as the Dean of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. During his tenure at UMKC, the Conservatory achieved its $48 million fundraising goal, the largest in UMKC history for a single project, for the proposed $96 million UMKC downtown arts campus. This project will move the Conservatory into the heart of Kansas City's new downtown arts district. His other accomplishments include launching a more inclusive and holistic review of student applications, resulting in a 45 percent increase in enrollment of students of color and international students; increasing the number of degrees awarded and the undergraduate retention rate; and establishing partnerships with local music and arts organizations. Prior to his tenure at UMKC, Peter served nine years as the Chair of the Department of Music, Kennesaw State University (KSU), where he led the strategic plan to change the Department of Music to a School of Music. He holds a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees in music from University of Michigan.
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Breath Beneath from NYC and Philly
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Thanks to all of PRISM's fans who attended our Breath Beneath "Discovery" project in Philly and NYC last week. Creating computer-interactive work with two groundbreaking teams of filmmakers and composers—Bill Morrison and Julia Wolfe, and Mark DeChiazza and Dan Trueman—was a mind-bending and deeply enriching experience, and laid the groundwork for PRISM's further expansion into interdisciplinary collaborations. Breath Beneath also included one of PRISM's favorite pieces, the beautiful "Hymn" by Kati Agocs with video by Eli Stine, and the Quartet's first performances of Jacob TV's "The Body of Your Dreams" and "Heartbreakers." Jacob traveled from Amsterdam for our New York performance; it was great to see an old friend whose music has been an important part of PRISM's development, and is featured on the group's 2008 innova release, Pitch Black.
Special thanks to Breath Beneath co-presenters Paul Jereu at Drexel University's URBN Annex and Kevin Cunningham at 3-Legged Dog, to production manager Janelle Kauffman, and to the project's lead/principal funder, The Pew Center for Artist & Heritage, for helping to bring the program to life. Breath Beneath was recorded for a 2018 broadcast—more on that soon!
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Guest artists Greg Osby and Rudresh Mahanthappa joined PRISM at Vernon Park.
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PRISM joined forces with jazz luminaries Greg Osby and Rudresh Mahanthappa at Philadelphia's Vernon Park on Sept 10 for a free concert featuring music from the Quartet's Heritage/Evolution project, bridging the saxophone's dual histories in classical music and jazz. The program featured Osby's haunting "Covenant of Voices" and Mahanthappa's infectious "I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MY TONE TONIGHT," and two works from PRISM's upcoming release, Heritage/Evolution, Volume 2: Chris Potter's "Improvisations" and Matthew Levy's "Found." Above are pics from the Vernon Park and Breath Beneath programs by PRISM's primary photographer, Jon Rohrer.
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