Juxtatonal [JUX], a theatrical new music voice and cello duo, teams up with saxophonist Nick Zoulek to explore the concepts of relevance and vulnerability through a playful yet meaningful contemporary music concert. The program includes new commissions from JUX's latest Relevance Project and works from both of Zoulek’s albums ("Rushing Past Willow" and "Enter Branch") in addition to works for all three performers. 

JUX aims to legitimize playfulness on stage, find creativity in a recreative art, and connect with audiences through compositions that blur the lines between music, art, and theater. In the spirit of this mission, JUX commissioned 14 composers for new works responding to the concept of relevance. The compositions deal with issues of vulnerability, self, privilege, gender, age, and culture.

In addition to collaborating with JUX to perform three world premieres, Zoulek will share some of his own compositions that include cinematic video projections. He explores new possibilities in saxophone performance, creating visceral tapestries of sound and has been praised as a “no-holds-barred engine of avant-garde exploration," (Portland Press Herald) and “stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre” (Wall Street Journal). 

For more information about the artists, visit their websites: www.juxtatonal.com and www.nickzoulek.com.

Juxtatonal [JUX], a theatrical new music voice and cello duo, teams up with saxophonist Nick Zoulek to explore the concepts of relevance and vulnerability through a playful yet meaningful contemporary music concert. The program includes new commissions from JUX's latest Relevance Project and works from both of Zoulek’s albums ("Rushing Past Willow" and "Enter Branch") in addition to works for all three performers. 

JUX aims to legitimize playfulness on stage, find creativity in a recreative art, and connect with audiences through compositions that blur the lines between music, art, and theater. In the spirit of this mission, JUX commissioned 14 composers for new works responding to the concept of relevance. The compositions deal with issues of vulnerability, self, privilege, gender, age, and culture.

In addition to collaborating with JUX to perform three world premieres, Zoulek will share some of his own compositions that include cinematic video projections. He explores new possibilities in saxophone performance, creating visceral tapestries of sound and has been praised as a “no-holds-barred engine of avant-garde exploration," (Portland Press Herald) and “stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre” (Wall Street Journal). 

For more information about the artists, visit their websites: www.juxtatonal.com and www.nickzoulek.com.

Juxtatonal [JUX], a theatrical new music voice and cello duo, teams up with saxophonist Nick Zoulek to explore the concepts of relevance and vulnerability through a playful yet meaningful contemporary music concert. The program includes new commissions from JUX's latest Relevance Project and works from both of Zoulek’s albums ("Rushing Past Willow" and "Enter Branch") in addition to works for all three performers. 

JUX aims to legitimize playfulness on stage, find creativity in a recreative art, and connect with audiences through compositions that blur the lines between music, art, and theater. In the spirit of this mission, JUX commissioned 14 composers for new works responding to the concept of relevance. The compositions deal with issues of vulnerability, self, privilege, gender, age, and culture.

In addition to collaborating with JUX to perform three world premieres, Zoulek will share some of his own compositions that include cinematic video projections. He explores new possibilities in saxophone performance, creating visceral tapestries of sound and has been praised as a “no-holds-barred engine of avant-garde exploration," (Portland Press Herald) and “stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre” (Wall Street Journal). 

For more information about the artists, visit their websites: www.juxtatonal.com and www.nickzoulek.com.

Juxtatonal [JUX], a theatrical new music voice and cello duo, teams up with saxophonist Nick Zoulek to explore the concepts of relevance and vulnerability through a playful yet meaningful contemporary music concert. The program includes new commissions from JUX's latest Relevance Project and works from both of Zoulek’s albums ("Rushing Past Willow" and "Enter Branch") in addition to works for all three performers. 

JUX aims to legitimize playfulness on stage, find creativity in a recreative art, and connect with audiences through compositions that blur the lines between music, art, and theater. In the spirit of this mission, JUX commissioned 14 composers for new works responding to the concept of relevance. The compositions deal with issues of vulnerability, self, privilege, gender, age, and culture.

In addition to collaborating with JUX to perform three world premieres, Zoulek will share some of his own compositions that include cinematic video projections. He explores new possibilities in saxophone performance, creating visceral tapestries of sound and has been praised as a “no-holds-barred engine of avant-garde exploration," (Portland Press Herald) and “stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre” (Wall Street Journal). 

For more information about the artists, visit their websites: www.juxtatonal.com and www.nickzoulek.com.

Juxtatonal [JUX], a theatrical new music voice and cello duo, teams up with saxophonist Nick Zoulek to explore the concepts of relevance and vulnerability through a playful yet meaningful contemporary music concert. The program includes new commissions from JUX's latest Relevance Project and works from both of Zoulek’s albums ("Rushing Past Willow" and "Enter Branch") in addition to works for all three performers. 

JUX aims to legitimize playfulness on stage, find creativity in a recreative art, and connect with audiences through compositions that blur the lines between music, art, and theater. In the spirit of this mission, JUX commissioned 14 composers for new works responding to the concept of relevance. The compositions deal with issues of vulnerability, self, privilege, gender, age, and culture.

In addition to collaborating with JUX to perform three world premieres, Zoulek will share some of his own compositions that include cinematic video projections. He explores new possibilities in saxophone performance, creating visceral tapestries of sound and has been praised as a “no-holds-barred engine of avant-garde exploration," (Portland Press Herald) and “stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre” (Wall Street Journal). 

For more information about the artists, visit their websites: www.juxtatonal.com and www.nickzoulek.com.

Juxtatonal [JUX], a theatrical new music voice and cello duo, teams up with saxophonist Nick Zoulek to explore the concepts of relevance and vulnerability through a playful yet meaningful contemporary music concert. The program includes new commissions from JUX's latest Relevance Project and works from both of Zoulek’s albums ("Rushing Past Willow" and "Enter Branch") in addition to works for all three performers. 

JUX aims to legitimize playfulness on stage, find creativity in a recreative art, and connect with audiences through compositions that blur the lines between music, art, and theater. In the spirit of this mission, JUX commissioned 14 composers for new works responding to the concept of relevance. The compositions deal with issues of vulnerability, self, privilege, gender, age, and culture.

In addition to collaborating with JUX to perform three world premieres, Zoulek will share some of his own compositions that include cinematic video projections. He explores new possibilities in saxophone performance, creating visceral tapestries of sound and has been praised as a “no-holds-barred engine of avant-garde exploration," (Portland Press Herald) and “stunningly virtuosic, whatever the genre” (Wall Street Journal). 

For more information about the artists, visit their websites: www.juxtatonal.com and www.nickzoulek.com.

Solo set at National Sawdust’s SAUCE Sessions

Juxtatonal, the soprano and cello duo formed at the Blackbird Creative Lab, take on the DIA’s Rivera Court with a performance of works by some of contemporary music’s most cutting-edge composers.

Eighth Blackbird, Blackbird Creative Lab

Join Eighth Blackbird for a celebration of the Blackbird Creative Lab, a summer program Eighth Blackbird initiated in 2017. Eighth Blackbird will be joined by three lab alumni groups — ~Nois, Juxtatonal (who formed at the Lab in 2017) and The Furies — in a performance featuring several lab alumni composers who represent some of the most innovative and appealing voices of a new generation: Gemma Peacocke, Molly Joyce, Nina Shekhar, Fjola Evans and Danny Clay. The evening will start with Björk’s The Pleasure is All Mine and culminate in a performance of Julius Eastman’s seminal 1971 work, Stay On It, performed by everyone.

James Tocco, Leila Josefowicz, Philip Setzer, Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins, Blackbird Creative Lab (~Nois, Juxtatonal and The Furies), Eighth Blackbird, Ivalas Quartet, Thalea String Quartet

Eighth Blackbird returns for a performance of all things contemporary featuring works by Stone Composer-in-Residence Sarah Kirkland Snider, Annika Kale Socolofsky and Viet Cuong. Plus, witness a Festival showstopper as Leila Josefowicz, Philip Setzer, Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins and members from the Thalea String Quartet and Eighth Blackbird combine for a cross-generational performance of Shostakovich’s Two Pieces for String Octet.

John Novacek, Philip Setzer, Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins, Callisto Quartet, Blackbird Creative Lab (~Nois, Juxtatonal and The Furies), Eighth Blackbird

Join us for a celebration of the past, present and future of composition featuring the Callisto Quartet’s world premiere performance of a work by Stone Composer Fellow Annika K. Socolofsky; Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 3 featuring Philip Setzer, Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins and John Novacek; and selections from some of contemporary music’s most applauded composers performed by modern-classical superstars, Eighth Blackbird.

Chicago-based four-time GRAMMY award-winning new music sextet Eighth Blackbird, brings NOIS saxophone quartet and Juxtatonal voice and cello duo, two alumni ensembles from the Blackbird Creative Lab, to Englewood and Garfield Park for all-ages afternoon concerts. Each performance includes time to interact with the musicians and a chance to learn more about neighborhood music initiatives for youth and adults. The Englewood post-concert conversation will focus on older youth and young adults interested in pursuing music study and careers.

Chicago-based four-time GRAMMY award-winning new music sextet Eighth Blackbird, brings NOIS saxophone quartet and Juxtatonal voice and cello duo, two alumni ensembles from the Blackbird Creative Lab, to Englewood and Garfield Park for all-ages afternoon concerts. Each performance includes time to interact with the musicians and a chance to learn more about neighborhood music initiatives for youth and adults. The Englewood post-concert conversation will focus on older youth and young adults interested in pursuing music study and careers.

Concert of solo cello music in Tucson, AZ