Ellen Reid is a composer and sound artist whose work “brims with canny invention” (L.A. Weekly). Reid’s work is largely collaborative and takes the form of opera, chamber music, immersive interactive media, and scores for film and theater. Reid’s work has been hailed as “ineffably moving” by Mark Swed of theL.A. Times, “radiant” by Alex Ross of The New Yorker, and it’s been said that her vocal writing would “make you believe that the mythical sirens really existed” (KCRW). Her recent and upcoming projects include dreams of the new world for LA Master Chorale premiered at Walt Disney Concert Hall in May 2018, Prism with Beth Morrison Projects to be premiered by LA Opera in November 2018, a new commission for the LA Philharmonic’s 2018/19 centenary season, the premiere of Petrichor with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, HOPSCOTCH with The Industry (dir. Yuval Sharon), music for Death of a Salesman at BAM, a solo cello piece for Johannes Moser, Push/Pull for International Contemporary Ensemble, and music for Buster’s Mal Heart (starring Rami Malek) with filmmaker Sarah Adina Smith that premiered at Toronto Film Festival. In 2016 she and fellow composer Missy Mazzoli co-founded Luna Composition Lab, a mentorship program directed at young self-identified female and gender non-conforming composers, in partnership with the Kaufman Music Center’s Face the Music program. Ellen received her BFA from Columbia University and her MA from California Institute of the Arts. She splits her time between her two favorite cities—Los Angeles and New York.

percussionist / dance collaborator / member of Cuñao

My name is Janet Orsi and I am a jazz singer in the Orange County area.  My musical journey really started when I auditioned for the Orange County High School of the Arts.  At the time, I was unsure of what I wanted to do and thought I would give music a try.  I experimented with musical theatre, pop and a cappella choir, all of which I enjoyed, but wasn't sure I wanted to devote my life to.  In my second year, I took a required jazz course, where I was exposed to jazz and improvisation for the first time.  By the time I graduated, I was still wrestling with what my path would be, but knew that music was what I wanted to pursue.  So I attended Chapman University to get a strong classical foundation.  At Chapman, jazz found me again, this time in the form of Professor Albert Alva, who approached me to offer me a place in the school big band as the fronting vocalist.  The first day I walked into that rehearsal hall, I knew I had found my people and my calling.  I completed my studies at Chapman, earning a double bachelors degree in vocal performance and music education.  All the while, I was out attending nightly jams and jazz gigs, singing with the big band and booking gigs of my own.  Since, I've sang with many incredible musicians and played a variety of venues throughout Orange County and Los Angeles.  Currently, I have the amazing opportunity to be living in Valencia, Spain while I work towards a masters degree in contemporary performance from Berklee College of Music, Valencia Campus.


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