Artists

QUASAR

Ardent devotees of the music of our time, the Quasar saxophone quartet is dedicated to premiering and promoting contemporary music that is multi-dimensionally conceived. Celebrated for its energy, audacity and exceptional technical ability, Quasar explores different aspects of artistic creation from instrumental music to live electronics, from improvisation to instrumental theatre. The quartet has played throughout Canada and has also performed in Rotterdam, Valencia and in Paris where they joined forces with the ensemble of the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (Festival Présence/Radio-France). In March 2003, they performed the first integral version of Klas Torstensson's triptych, Licks & Brains, as part of the Montréal-Nouvelles Musiques International Festival. This concert was given the OPUS prize in the 'concert of the year in new music and electroacoustics' category. In January 2005 Quasar premiered with the Winnipeg Symphony, The Choreography of Time, written by Tim Brady, as part of the WSO New Music Festival. In the same year, Jean-François Laporte's, La plénitude du vide , commissioned and premiered by Quasar, won the Opus award for 'new work of the year'. In May 2005 Quasar welcomed the Arte Saxophone Quartet (Switzerland) for a concert bringing the two quartets together at the Salle Pierre-Mercure in Montreal. Last October Quasar was on tour in the Baltics states (Festivals Gaïda, NYYD, Music of changes) and most recently across Canada.

AFFINITY

Founded in 1998, Affinity deploys an instrumentation of woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, piano, and voice. Guest artists augment the ensemble. Affinity has appeared in the Seattle Symphony’s Fusion and Made in America festivals, Moore Theater’s New Music Showcase, and the Myra’s War project at the University of Washington. Members have been heard throughout North America, Europe, and Israel, and have held positions at Seattle University, Washington State University, as composer-in-residence at the Max Aronoff Viola Institute and the Boise Chamber Fortnight, conductor of the Yale Slavic Chorus, and Fellow at the Kennedy Center. They are graduates of Oberlin, Eastman, Indiana University, and the University of Washington. Members have studied with Irvine Arditti, Stuart Dempster, Joël-François Durand, Richard Karpen, Maryvonne Le Dizès, William O. Smith, Diane Thome, and Carol Wincenc. They have won awards from ASCAP, the Composer’s Guild, concerto competitions, and have recordings on the Centaur, CCMC, and Present Sounds labels.

Transport

Jack Straw Productions, and Washington Composers Forum present

Quasar quatour de saxophones - Thursday, May 29 @ 7:30pm

Affinity - Thursday, June 12 @ 7:30pm

QUASAR quatour de saxophones

Thursday, May 29 @ 7:30pm

Chapel Performance Space - Good Shepherd Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, 4th Floor in Seattle map

Tickets: At door. $5-$15 siding scale, WCF members attend one concert in the Transport series free

Montreal-based Quasar saxophone quartet arrives in Seattle for the first time to present works by Quebecois composers. The concert includes Procession by Jean-François Laporte, written for organ pipes, Claude Vivier’s Pulau Dewata, influenced by the composer’s stay in Bali, Miroir des vents by Luc Marcel and commissioned by the ensemble, and Michel Frigon’s Geyser Ghetto. The concert also features the premiere of EMMAUS by Northwest composer Donald Stewart, and includes a chamber ensemble. The work will be conducted by Julia Tai. In addition, Quasar will present music by composer Peter Blauvelt chosen from an international call for scores.

The Interval series presents video by filmmaker Lisa Young-Kutsukake accompanying music by composer Robert Fleisher.

AFFINITY

Thursday, June 12 @ 7:30pm

Chapel Performance Space - Good Shepherd Center
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, 4th Floor in Seattle map

Tickets: At door. $5-$15 siding scale, WCF members attend one concert in the Transport series free

The Northwest ensemble Affinity concludes the Transport series with an ambitious program of music by Northwest composers. The concert includes Sarah Bassingthwaighte’s The Corruption of Tellus, Brad Sherman’s Mood Swings, and music by Ryan Hare and Chris Stover. In addition, the ensemble will present works chosen from an international call for scores, including Simon Martin’s Downfall, Marc Jensen’s Imaginary Line, and Garrett Hope’s Flibbertigibbet.

The ensemble is Sarah Bassingthwaighte, flute, Brad Sherman, clarinet, Ryan Hare, bassoon, Judson Jay Scott, trumpet, Chris Stover, trombone, Dale Speicher, percussion, Hope Wechkin, soprano, Julie Ives, piano, Pamela Yu Liu, violin, Mary Riles, cello, Moriah Neils, double bass, and Julia Tai, conductor.

The Interval series presents video by filmmakers Dena DeCola and Karin Wandner accompanying music by composer Jay Hamilton.

Supporters

Co-presented by Jack Straw Productions, the series is co-sponsored by the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, City of Seattle. Special thanks to Nonsequitur.

nonsequitur