Wooden Cities performing Lukas Foss's "Paradigm" (1968) live at Pausa Art House, October 26, 2013. Performed by Brendan Fitzgerald (percussion,  conductor); Michael McNeill (piano); Zane Merritt (electric guitar); Evan Courtin (violin); TJ Borden (cello).

Lukas Foss - Paradigm (mvmt 4)

In collaboration with artists from Starlight Studio and Art Gallery, Wooden Cities presents an evening of original graphic scores composed by Starlight Arists. The evening is a culmination of sessions that teach artists how to create visual works that can then be interpreted by the ensemble. 
This program was made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts DEC Grant distributed through Arts Services Initiative of WNY, Inc..The event is Free and open to the public.

STARLIGHTSTUDIO.ORG
Starlight Studio and Art Gallery is a cooperative environment that supports adults with disabilities in their artistic development. Through technical assistance by professional artists, on-site and off-site exhibitions and other opportunities for representation and sales, the Starlight artists hone their artistic interests, become stronger advocates and better integrated citizens.

WOODENCITIES.ORG
Central to Wooden Cities' mission is a desire to introduce audiences and students to contemporary musical aesthetics and performance practice. Programs are often designed in an attempt to expose audiences to new musical experiences and ways of listening. The ensemble is also devoted to working with young musicians and encouraging them to explore new methods of creating, performing, and thinking about music. Through a variety of programs and workshops, Wooden Cities hopes to engage students in absorbing discussions and unique musical exercises aimed at increasing their awareness and experience of contemporary music.

The ensemble has done graphic music residencies at a variety of locations, including the WNY Book Arts Center, UB Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic, and at a variety of schools and community programs. The ensemble has frequently been invited to conduct student composer workshops at the University at Buffalo, and recently ran an improvisation/game piece residency at Rochester's Greece Olympia High School. In 2016, Wooden Cities received a DEC grant from Arts Services Initiative of WNY and the New York State Council on the Arts for a collaborative graphic music workshop at Starlight Studio & Art Gallery, a vibrant art studio located in downtown Buffalo that supports adults with disabilities in their artistic development. The 2016-17 season will see concert residencies at Houghton College and with the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (Philadelphia).

PaulChandlerMermaidLagoon - JediTrialsLightSaberBattle

LisaVanHiseUntitled

SheilaBushQuintet

JeremyPrattSporadicCombustion

ChaceLobleyFrozen

DebbieBowersNighttimeLullaby

MatthewSharpmgOgm

RositaScottSoundsofShapes

EbonyValentinNatureSong



Performed April 28, 2016 at Pausa Art House (Buffalo, NY).

Evan Courtin (synthesizer), Ethan Hayden (laptop), Nathan Heidelberger (piano), Brendan Fitzgerald (percussion/conductor)

Recorded by Tyler Smith.


John Cage - Imaginary Landscape No. 1

Performed April 28, 2016 at Pausa Art House (Buffalo, NY).

Arranged for Wooden Cities by Brendan Fitzgerald and Nathan Heidelberger.

Megan Kyle (oboe), Nathan Heidelberger (piano), Esin Gündüz/Ethan Hayden/Girilal Baars (voices), Evan Courtin (violin), Katie Weissman ('cello), Brendan Fitzgerald (percussion/conductor)

Recorded by Tyler Smith.

Cornelius Cardew - Treatise

Will Redman's Book performed by Wooden Cities live in studio on WBNY's Upstate Soundscape.  Evan Courtin (violin); Brendan Fitzgerald (guitar); Ethan Hayden (voice); Michael McNeill (keyboard).

Will Redman - Book (version 1)

Will Redman - Book (version 3)

Wooden Cities is both an ensemble and a collective of performers and composers seeking to help increase the performance and awareness of contemporary music in the Western New York area through unique, educational presentations. Formed in July 2011, the group served as a vehicle for director Brendan Fitzgerald to present John Zorn's game piece Cobra. Since that time the group has grown to include over a dozen performers and is constantly seeking new works by new composers while continuing to present works by some of the essential, yet underrepresented composers of the 20th Century.

Wooden Cities

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