The virtuosic ensemble BLACK PENCIL was founded in 2010.  The ensemble’s debut concert took place in the same year at the prestigious Amsterdam Concertgebouw, followed by the world premieres of several new works at the large-scale festival Istanbul: European Capital of Culture 2010. 

The name ‘Black Pencil’ stems from the ensemble’s first project, inspired by a remarkable series of miniatures by the painter Mehmet Siyah Kalem (15th century, presumably of Turkish origin). In English, ‘siyah kalem’ literally translates as ‘black pencil’.         
 
Black Pencil focuses on new repertoire with all new works composed especially for the ensemble, as well as an adventurous range of their own arrangements, influenced by different folk cultures.
 
The instrumental core of the ensemble consists of blockflute, panflute, viola, accordion and percussion. The ensemble may also be expanded with live electronics and video, depending on the programme.

The mission of the ensemble is the presentation of exciting new music and sparkling improvisations, communicated through a unique instrumental setup.

PhD candidate affiliated with the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Composition and East Asian instruments. Currently based in northern Japan.

https://dalenwuest.com/
https://linktr.ee/dalenwuest

https://andrzejojczenasz.art
Student of music composition at the Academy of Music in Kraków & the University of Louisville
- Honorary distinction at the 2nd Krzysztof Penderecki International Competition for Young Composers
http://festiwal.zkp.krakow.pl/en/konkurs/
- 1st place at the 5th Krzysztof Penderecki Composition Competition under Sopot Classic Festival
http://sopotclassic.pl/v-konkurs-kompozytorski-im-krzysztofa-pendereckiego-zostal-rozstrzygniety/
- scholarship holder of the COMPOSER.PL program in 2019
http://composer.pl/
- Honorary distinction at 15th SUN RIVER PRIZE Students’ New Music Composition Competition Chengdu, P.R. China, 2019
http://www.sccm.cn/sunriver/index.html
- 2st place at the 6th Krzysztof Penderecki Composition Competition under Sopot Classic Festival

Maurice van Loon (Netherlands, *1969) is a composer who writes music for all kinds of classical ensembles, choirs, soloists and electronics. His music can be described as direct and clear but with a sense of drama.

Followers of BlackPencil