Eighth Blackbird to Join University of Richmond as Ensemble-In-Residence
January 23, 2004
Critically acclaimed contemporary music sextet eighth blackbird has signed on as the new ensemble-in-residence at the University of Richmond.
Regarded as one of the premier new music groups of its generation, eighth blackbird has established a reputation for provocative and engaging performances. Specializing in performances of chamber music by living composers, the ensemble will begin its work with Richmond's music department and the Modlin Center for the Arts during the 2004-05 academic year.
As visiting instructors, the six musicians-pianist Lisa Kaplan, violin-violist Matt Albert, percussionist Matthew Duvall, clarinetist Michael J. Maccaferri, cellist Nicholas Photinos and flutist Molly Alicia Barth-will teach courses focusing on contemporary music, composition and chamber music coaching.
"They're also interested in contributing to all our courses," said Gene Anderson, music department chair. "I see these gifted musicians becoming intimately involved with all aspects of our curriculum. They're going to add a lot of life and enthusiasm that I think will appeal to our students. They're young [all members are in their 30s], and I think that will prove infectious." Performance responsibilities for eighth blackbird will include two concerts each season in the Modlin Center's "Great Performances" series, plus one performance during the annual Third Practice Electro-Acoustic Festival.
"We are thrilled to join the faculty of the University of Richmond and honored by the university's vision and boldness in appointing a new music group such as eighth blackbird," said pianist Kaplan. "From our very first visit a few years ago, we were incredibly impressed by the school. The faculty, staff, students and facilities all exceeded any expectations we may have had. We look forward to augmenting the music department, Modlin Center and the university, and we are eager to work with everyone there to create new and exciting opportunities in music."
The group, which draws its name from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens' poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," organized in 1996, when the members were students at Oberlin Conservatory.
Serving concurrently as ensemble-in-residence at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, eighth blackbird has won a number of high-profile chamber-music prizes, including a Naumburg Award in 2000. Since its founding, the group has been active in commissioning new works from eminent composers-most notably Frederic Rzewski and George Perle-as well as groundbreaking works by Jennifer Higdon, Derek Bermel, David Schober, Daniel Kellogg, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez and the Minimum Security Composers Collective.
The ensemble's current season boasts three performance debuts: its European debut in Kraków, Poland; its Canadian debut in Vancouver; and its Carnegie Hall debut in March. Other highlights include performances throughout the Midwest, East Coast, California and New Mexico. In recent seasons the sextet has performed in South Korea, Mexico, and around the United States at such venues as Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, Columbia's Miller Theater, the 92nd Street Y, the Metropolitan Museum, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the La Jolla Chamber Music Society.
Before the start of its year-long residency at Richmond, eighth blackbird will appear in concert at the Modlin Center Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. as this year's Tucker-Boatwright Artists-in-Residence. The program will feature works by composers Michael Torke and Joan Tower, who will give a pre-concert talk at 7 p.m.