Composer David Biedenbender’s music has been described as “simply beautiful” [twincities.com] and is noted for its “rhythmic intensity” [NewMusicBox] and “stirring harmonies” [Boston Classical Review]. “Modern, venturesome, and inexorable…The excitement, intensity, and freshness that characterizes Biedenbender’s music hung in the [air] long after the last note was played” [Examiner.com]. David has written music for the concert stage as well as for dance and multimedia collaborations, and his work is often influenced by his diverse musical experiences in rock and jazz bands as an electric bassist, in wind, jazz, and New Orleans-style brass bands as a euphonium, bass trombone, and tuba player, and by his study of Indian Carnatic Music. His present creative interests include working with everyone from classically trained musicians to improvisers, acoustic chamber music to large ensembles, and interactive electronic interfaces to live brain data. He has had the privilege of collaborating with and being commissioned by many talented performers and ensembles, including Alarm Will Sound, PRISM Saxophone Quartet, Stenhammar String Quartet, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Navy Band, Philharmonie Baden-Baden (Germany), VocalEssence, and Eastman Wind Ensemble, among many others. 

He is currently Assistant Professor of Composition at Michigan State University. He holds degrees in composition from the University of Michigan and Central Michigan University, and has also studied at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, the Aspen Music Festival, and in Mysore, India where he studied carnatic music. For more information, visit: www.davidbiedenbender.com.

procedurally-generated freedom
deconstruction/synthesis
cofounder @slashsound

Canadian pianist Vicky Chow has been described as “brilliant” (New York Times), “a monster pianist” (Time Out New York), "virtuosic" (New Jersey Star Ledger), and “one of the new stars of new music” (Los Angeles Times). Besides being a member of the Bang on a Can All-Stars, she is also a founding member of DUO X88, a piano duo with Dutch pianist Saskia Lankhoorn and GRANDBAND, a six keyboard ensemble with pianists Lisa Moore, Blair McMillen, David Friend, Isabelle O'Connell and Paul Kerekes..Most recently she gave the North American premiere of Steve Reich's work 'Piano Counterpoint' and also the world premiere of a new evening length work by artist/composer Tristan Perich for solo piano and 40 channel 1-bit electronics titled 'Surface Image'. Her next solo projects include commissions from American composers Chris Cerrone, Neil Rolnick, and Canadian composer Adam Basanta and recording releases on the New Amsterdam and nonesuch labels. 

Vicky’s passion for new music has propelled her to work with an A-to-Z of leading composers and musicians such as John Adams, Louis Andriessen, Bryce Dessner (The National) Philip Glass, Glenn Kotche (Wilco), David Longstreth (Dirty Projectors), Steve Reich, Terry Riley, and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth). Her recorded work can be found on the ‘tzadik’, ‘Cantaloupe’,' innova', 'hinterzimmer', and ‘altaVoz’ labels. Her performances can be heard on WQXR, WNYC, CBC and BBC Radio 3. In addition to performing, Ms. Chow also produces and curates “Contagious Sounds”, a new music series focusing on adventurous contemporary artists and composers in New York City. She receives continuous support from the Canada Council for the Arts and has received grants from the Fromm Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, and the BC Arts Council.

Originally from Vancouver Canada, Ms. Chow studied at The Juilliard School with Yoheved Kaplinsky and Julian Martin before continuing studies at Manhattan School of Music with Christopher Oldfather.

Starting the piano at age 5, she was invited to perform at the age of 9 at the International Gilmore Music Keyboard Festival. She made her orchestral debut at the age of 10 with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra made her NY orchestral debut appearance at Alice Tully Hall with the Juilliard Symphony performing Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

www.vickychow.com

Bill composes, produces events, conducts, and teaches. He's a dad. He cooks. He backpacks. He climbs mountains. He has run marathons and ultra marathons very slowly. He uses a Mac. He takes photographs. He owns many power tools. He loves baseball. He spends way too much time online.

Falling@$Kr00...The Sun---dfod-safoCAR..00ksunlight.43542Surrendermm9999HOPE

OCTET is a New York-based music ensemble comprised of stellar instrumentalists performing contemporary compositions that push boundaries. OCTET is dedicated to collaborating with artists in a variety of disciplines, forging a unique, unheard and unseen intermingling of music and media in order to provide audiences an alternative music experience.

Contributing to the unique sound of OCTET is its instrumentation. Essentially, it is a scaled down big band using one each from the brass section plus rhythm: saxophone, trumpet, trombone, drums, piano, electric piano, vocals, and double bass.

SAXOPHONE Demetrius Spaneas
TRUMPET Mike Gurfield
TROMBONE Alan Ferber
DRUMS Greg Zuber
PIANO Elaine Kwon
ELECTRIC PIANO William Susman
VOCALS Mellissa Hughes
DOUBLE BASS Eleonore Oppenheim


Recorded at John Kilgore Sound, New York City by Josiah Gluck, March 17 &amp; 18, 2011 

Mixed at The Site, San Rafael, CA by Stephen Hart, assisted by Ana Sophia Dunham, April 25, May 2 & 6, 2011


I am a composer and audio engineer based in Missouri. This is the official destination for recordings of my pieces. Please visit www.FrankNawrot.com for information on purchasing scores for performance or study.

Bill Ryan Music is following