CLASS OF 20 17 CHRIS URQUIAGA Performances January 11 & 25 Education workshop January 18 page 2 JOEY ANTICO Performances February 8 & 22 Education workshop February 15 page 3 ETHAN FOOTE Performances March 8 & 22 Education workshop March 15 page 4 PATRICK McAVINUE Performances April 12 & 26 Education workshop April 19 page 5 SIMONE BARON Performances May 10 & 24 Education workshop May 17 page 6 INES NASSARA Performances June 14 & 28 Education workshop June 21 page 7 All events take place at 7:30pm in the Mansion. AIR Class of 2017 Photos by Jonathan Timmes STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100
CHRIS URQUIAGA SINGER-SONGWRITER Sponsored by J. Alberto Martinez, MD; Myra Turoff and Ken Weiner Performances January 11 & 25 A multifaceted singer-songwriter with a smooth voice, Chris Urquiaga s music combines Latin rhythms, pop, R&B, and more. A native of Silver Spring, Urquiaga attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he had the opportunity to write music of many genres for ensembles of his peers. He has written and performed songs for musicians and groups throughout the DC area, including worldrenowned soprano (and former AIR mentor) Carmen Balthrop, the Prince George s Philharmonic, and the Congressional Chorus. A recipient of the Kennedy Center Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts, Urquiaga rubbed shoulders with stars like Oprah Winfrey, Chris Tucker, and the Obama family when he performed at the White House for the historic 50 th Anniversary of the March on Washington. He recently signed with KonLive Distribution, a record label managed by hip-hop and R&B star Akon. Education workshop January 18 LATIN POP: A CULTURAL FUSION Urquiaga shares the history of Latin pop music and the influential artists who contributed to this crossover genre. You ll explore how artists cultural backgrounds and life experiences shape their sound and make their styles distinct. The workshop includes live, collaborative performances of various subgenres of Latin pop to highlight ideas of crossover, fusion, and the amalgamation of different genres to create a unique sound. 2 STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100
JOEY ANTICO JAZZ PERCUSSION Sponsored by Tanya and Stephen Spano Performances February 8 & 22 Joey Antico s finesse with all things percussion makes him a well-respected musician who is frequently sought after to share the stage with jazz, rock, funk, and electronic musicians. As a music student at the University of Maryland, Antico frequently performs with university ensembles, including the Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble, and jazz combos. He is also a collaborator with electronic duo Todo Mas, which released its first EP, Good Night and Joy Be with You, in December 2015. Antico also custom-builds his own instruments, reworking and refinishing old or damaged drums, fine-tuning them to emit the exact sounds he desires. Education workshop February 15 FLIP THE SCRIPT: MAKING MELODY WITH DRUMS Drums are often perceived as purely rhythmic, but their melodic potential can be more than meets the ear. Antico draws on the roots of keeping time and playing in an ensemble to reveal the multitude of ways that drums create melodies. Learn from examples, then apply your own creative ideas, gain constructive insight, and incorporate these elements into your music-making. STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100 3
ETHAN FOOTE CHAMBER MUSIC & FOLK Sponsored by Mrs. Patricia Haywood Moore and Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr. Performances March 8 & 22 Ethan Foote s music reflects many influences, ranging from classical to folk to jazz. As a bassist, Foote began his career playing and writing for The Sanga Equation, a DC-based progressive jazz quartet, and he continues to play regularly in the DC jazz scene. Foote has worked closely with Artist in Residence alumna and experimental folk musician Marian McLaughlin since 2013, arranging her songs for different ensembles and co-producing her second studio album, Spirit House. In 2015, Foote released his debut solo album, Fields Burning, a work that, with its complex songwriting and broad instrumental palette rooted in chamber music, weaves together a form of folk-rock with romantic and mystical leanings. Education workshop March 15 MUSIC, LITERATURE, AND POLITICS OF EARLY MODERNISM Amidst the tumultuous social and political climate of the first half of the 20 th century, both music and literature were transformed by what became known as modernism. Explore the connection between the two art forms during this time, investigating the many different ideas of the modern, the philosophy behind these ideas, and the creative minds that advanced them. By engaging with text and musical examples, you ll develop a big-picture understanding of cultural changes in the early 20 th century and draw parallels to the modern day. 4 STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100
PATRICK MCAVINUE AMERICAN ROOTS FIDDLE Sponsored by Linda and Van Hubbard Performances April 12 & 26 Driven by his passion for roots music, Patrick McAvinue uses traditional bluegrass to create his own unique performances that embody musicality, energy, and creativity. McAvinue was recently awarded the International Bluegrass Music Association s 2015 Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year, an award reserved for emerging virtuosic artists. McAvinue tours with acclaimed bluegrass super-group Audie Blaylock and Redline and the Baltimore-based traditional roots quartet Charm City Junction. He is a featured recording artist for the Patuxent Music recording label. McAvinue recently released Charm City Fiddle Favorites, Vol. 1 16 foot-stomping solo fiddle tunes that embody Baltimore s style of music. Education workshop April 19 THE ROOTS MUSICIAN: HONORING TRADITION WHILE CELEBRATING INNOVATION Musicians today have immense access to diverse styles of music without having to leave home. Advancements in technology and the flow of information give musicians the ability to cross between genres and styles seamlessly. Learn about the influences and evolution of today s American roots fiddler as McAvinue leads this workshop complete with live and recorded musical examples. STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100 5
SIMONE BARON CLASSICAL FUSION ACCORDION & PIANO Sponsored by Dale Rosenthal Performances May 10 & 24 Simone Baron improvises, interprets, experiments, and arranges her way through classical, chamber jazz, and global music on the accordion and piano. Baron studied piano and conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Tel Aviv University s Buchmann School of Music, and she has performed throughout Europe, Israel, and North America. Her unique voice and reimagination of the accordion s possibilities have opened the door to cross-genre collaborations with dancers, actors, puppeteers, visual artists, and performance artists. Arco Belo, Baron s current project with fellow AIR Ethan Foote, is a hybrid chamber jazz sextet with strings and percussion that features original compositions and innovative arrangements of works from different musical traditions. Education workshop May 17 WORLD OF THE ACCORDION Explore the universe of the accordion and learn how it blew musicality back into classical musician Baron s life. Trace the instrument s history, learn about its fabrication, and follow its epic global trek to learn about the accordion s rich, diverse musical traditions and sonic possibilities. This workshop focuses on classical, folk, and Brazilian accordion music, along with the history of jazz accordion. This workshop is interactive you may get to try your hand on the accordion yourself! 6 STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100
INES NASSARA MUSICAL THEATER VOCALIST Sponsored by Mrs. Patricia Haywood Moore and Dr. Roscoe M. Moore, Jr. Performances June 14 & 28 Ines Nassara s outstanding vocal and acting ability have landed her among the best emerging actresses in the DC area. Nassara recently graduated from Towson University where she performed extensively in the school s musical theater productions. Nassara was nominated for a 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical for playing Ronny in The Keegan Theatre s production of Hair. She has garnered critical acclaim for her powerful vocals, energy, and passion that she brings to the stage, driving the ensembles around her to new heights. Education workshop June 21 MASTER CLASS: ACTING A SONG In this fun master class, you will develop technical skills in sincere and fearless storytelling through song. Each student performs a musical theater song of their choice, explores the character through writing, and receives thoughtful feedback from Nassara to help bring the song to life. No experience necessary. STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100 7
ABOUT THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM A flagship program of Strathmore s Institute for Artistic and Professional Development, the Artist in Residence (AIR) program was created more than a decade ago to support artists as they transition to professional careers. Since its inception in 2005, the program has mentored more than 60 musicians ages 16 to 32. Every year, a class of six is chosen after a competitive selection program. Strathmore Artists in Residence benefit from the support of mentor musicians, participate in professional development seminars, and are offered extensive performance opportunities throughout the 10-month program. CLASS OF 2017 MENTORS MARK SCHATZ Mentees: Simone Baron & Joey Antico An award-winning bassist, banjoist, and composer, Mark Schatz has amazed audiences around the globe for decades with his energetic, driving bluegrass rhythms and passion for roots music. BONNIE RIDEOUT Mentees: Ethan Foote & Chris Urquiaga Bonnie Rideout s warm, emotional take on Scottish fiddle has garnered her numerous international competition titles and Grammy nominations, making her one of the most influential American female Scottish fiddlers. TOM TEASLEY Mentees: Patrick McAvinue & Ines Nassara Tom Teasley, 2016 DRUM! Magazine World Percussionist of the Year, continuously looks for innovative ways to create cross-cultural dialogue informed by his travels. He blends centuries-old percussion traditions with digital technology to create ancient and futuristic virtual ensembles. 8 STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100 STRATHMORE.ORG 301.581.5100