Eighth Blackbird

Part of the 2012-2013 Texas Performing Arts Season

eighth blackbird
Tim Munro, flutes
Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinets
Yvonne Lam, violin & viola
Nicholas Photinos, cello
Matthew Duvall, percussion
Lisa Kaplan, piano

Made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the Dean of the College of Fine Arts and the Executive Vice President and Provost of The University of Texas at Austin

Presented in partnership with the Butler School of Music and Fusebox Festival… Show more

On the heels of their 2012 Grammy Award for the recording of Steve Mackey’s Lonely Motel: Music from Slide, new music ensemble eighth blackbird returns to Texas Performing Arts for ten days of residency activities, bookended by two completely different concert programs. This sextet combines the finesse of a string quartet with the energy of a rock band, delivering provocative and mind-changing performances.

Since its founding in 1996, eighth blackbird has actively commissioned and recorded new works from such eminent composers as Steve Reich, George Perle, and Frederic Rzewski. Recent commissions include Jennifer Higdon’s On a Wire and Steve Mackey’s Slide. Future collaborators include Amy Beth Kirsten, Brett Dean, Aaron Jay Kernis, John Luther Adams, and Mayke Nas. eighth blackbird has been profiled in The New York Times, NPR’s All Things Considered, and on CBS’ Sunday Morning. The group is in residence at the University of Richmond in Virginia and the University of Chicago.

“The blackbirds are examples of a new breed of super musicians.”
MARK SWED, LOS ANGELES TIMES

Show less