Ensemble ACJW Set for Series of Shows at Subculture, Begin. 1/22

Ensemble ACJW kicks off a new three-concert series this season at Greenwich Village venue Subculture on Wednesday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. with an eclectic program, titled Encounters, that features interesting contemporary works and world premieres of new music, composed and/or arranged by the Ensemble ACJW fellows themselves.

The January Subculture program features two rarely performed pieces: Folk Songs, Set No. 9 by Iranian composer Reza Vali and Au Quai by late American composer Elliott Carter. ACJW percussionist Ian Sullivan contributes arrangements of two works by Argentinean tango composer Astor Piazzolla for the program, which is followed by a performance of the second movement of Ravel's String Quartet, heard in its original form then in a jazz-fused arrangement by ACJW trumpet player Thomas Bergeron. The program concludes with the world premieres of Subculture Overture by ACJW double bassist Doug Balliett, and The Soldier's Tale Reimagined, an innovative reworking of Stravinsky's master theater piece as imagined by various ensemble members.

Describing the inspiration for this concert, Balliett notes, "When this class came together, we were amazed at the depth of talent and creativity in this group. Encounters celebrates our coming together."

Ensemble ACJW returns to Subculture on Tuesday, April 29 with a program titled Conversations, and completes their series on Wednesday, June 11, with a concert appropriately called Farewells, an occasion that also marks the completion of the ACJW's musicians' two-year fellowship program.

Created in 2007 by Carnegie Hall's Executive and Artistic Director Clive Gillinson and The Juilliard School's President Joseph W. Polisi, Ensemble ACJW is an inspirational collective of young professional musicians who are fellows in a two-year program that supports them in building careers as top-quality performers, innovative programmers, and dedicated teachers who fully engage with the communities in which they live and work.

Ensemble ACJW fellows-chosen for their musicianship, but also for their leadership qualities and commitment to music education-come from some of the best music schools in the country, including The Colburn School, Eastman School of Music, The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Rice University, University of Southern California, and Yale School of Music.

"The new face of classical music for New York ... these performers have the musical goods," said The New York Times. This is just one of the many accolades that Ensemble ACJW has received for the quality of its performances and its fresh and open-minded approach, performing a wide range of music-from centuries past to works written days before an event-in a variety of performance venues. The group performs its own series at Carnegie Hall and has regularly appeared at The Juilliard School's Paul Hall and other venues throughout New York City, including (Le) Poisson Rouge nightclub in Greenwich Village, Subculture in NoHo, and Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn. As part of a partnership with Skidmore College that began in 2007, Ensemble ACJW gives master classes for university students and performs for the Saratoga Springs community in both concert halls and in informal settings around town.

Along with performance opportunities at premier venues in New York City and beyond, Ensemble ACJW fellows each partner with a New York City public school to share their artistry with-and become central resources for-music classrooms in the five boroughs. Ensemble ACJW fellows also take part in community work through the Weill Music Institute's Musical Connections program, in which they perform at multiple non-traditional music venues across New York City, including healthcare settings, correctional facilities, and senior-service organizations. Throughout the two-year program, Ensemble ACJW fellows participate in rigorous, ongoing professional development to ensure that they gain the necessary skills to be successful in all areas of the program and to become leaders in their field. Areas of emphasis include artistic excellence, engagement strategies on and off the stage, advocacy, professional skills, and preparation for their in-school work.

Exemplary performers, dedicated teachers, and advocates for music throughout the community, the forward-looking musicians of Ensemble ACJW are redefining what it means to be a musician in the 21st century. Visit acjw.org to learn more.

Photo by © Jennifer Taylor

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