6:00 p.m. Cocktails
7:00 p.m. Concert

The Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County presents Claire Bryant and Friends Chamber Music Community Residency April 9th - April 14th, 2012

Featuring: Artists from The Declassified & Found Sound Nation, and pianist Phillip Bush; with a special collaboration with high school students from Camden High School, Continuous Learning Center, and Camden Military Academy

About the Residency: Public Performances and Community Events

Monday, April 9^th 2:30-5:30pm -- "Street Studio," Location TBA

To kick off the week, come find our "Street Studio" on April 9th between 2:30 - 5:30pm on a sidewalk downtown - look for a bassoon, horn, or double bass, among others!  A mobile recording studio set up in the heart of downtown Camden, designed for community members to stop by and "jam" with the artists of The Declassified. The afternoon's music making session will be recorded, mixed, and produced by Found Sound Nation to create a "Sounds of Camden" track.  Musical experience is not required!

Tuesday, April 10^th-- Saturday, April 14^th -- "The Advocacy Album"

Twenty-five high school students from three of Camden's educational institutions will collaborate with nine musicians from New York City to create new musical works.  These original songs and compositions, entitled "The Advocacy Album," will be produced, recorded, and shared in performance by the students and artist facilitators from The Declassified and Found Sound Nation.  "The Advocacy Album" will be comprised of the students' work, which will explore ideas of tension, tolerance, and trust.  These themes are to be considered "jumping-off points" for the creative process, and are meant to start conversations around these common themes we all face in today's society.

Wednesday, April 11^th, 9pm -- Late Night Preview Show at the Venue on Broad Street

Classical musicians invade the local bar!  This special (and free) preview show is always lots of fun.  Come hear a taste of the "sounds of Camden" recorded from Monday's "Street Studio," as well as some selections by Bach, Isang Yun, Beethoven, and a couple of folk tunes from around the world.  Patrons are encouraged to join the musicians for a beer afterward!

Thursday, April 12^th, 7pm -- Chamber Music Performance -- Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County

Claire Bryant and Friends is thrilled to present seven artists from New York's newest chamber music society, The Declassified.  Members of The Declassified are drawn exclusively from alumni from The Academy: A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and the Weill Music Institute.   This revolutionary ensemble presents residencies in communities across the nation and the world.  This evening's program will feature works by some of classical music's greatest masters -- Bach, Stravinsky, and Beethoven, and a unique wind trio by Korean composer Isang Yun.  For this performance, The Declassified welcomes a special guest, Columbia-based pianist Phillip Bush.  Bush is a former member of the Phillip Glass and Steve Reich ensembles, and is the artistic director of the Bennington Chamber Music Conference in Vermont. 

Saturday, April 14^th, 5pm -- Culminating Performance of "The Advocacy Album" at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County

A special celebration showcasing the new compositions and songs written by the selected high school participants from Camden High School, Continuous Learning Center, and Camden Military during the week-long creative project.  This performance will feature the students and their works in collaboration with The Declassified and Found Sound Nation.  This is a free, non-ticketed, general admission event. 

About the Organizations
Claire Bryant and Friends

In its third season, Claire Bryant and Friends is an exciting collaboration between communities, campuses, health care facilities, and arts organizations across the United States and some of New York City's most sought-after professional young artists.

South Carolina native and Artistic Director, Claire Bryant, and fellow alumni from The Academy--a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute, offer innovative and collaborative community and campus residencies through Chamber Music with the intention of deepening societies' relationship with the arts and music education. These musicians are dedicated to the importance of community connection, through work in the public schools, retirement communities, health-care facilities, departments of disabilities, community centers and other venues that make up the core of our society.

Claire founded Claire Bryant and Friends in 2009 with the intention to return to South Carolina and build a deeper connection for the arts within individual communities in her home state.  Instead of only presenting a single concert, these artists have realized the benefits of going beyond the scope of a traditional performance.  With interactions, engagement, and exploration, chamber music can offer a full communal experience with a longer lasting impact.  www.clairebryantandfriends.com

The Declassified

The Declassified is a chamber music society seeking a revolution in the live musical arts.  This newly-formed collective of musicians combines world-class artistry, revelatory audience engagement, and innovative programming in pursuit of a new model for the musician in today's society.  The Declassified designs community residencies to reach audiences of broad scope, bringing creative concert experiences to schools, hospitals, prisons and bars, as well as major international concert halls.  

Based on the principles of The Academy--a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute--the musicians of The Declassified have previously presented acclaimed residencies as Ensemble ACJW in Spain, Mexico, Iceland, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Germany and Japan. In residence at Carnegie Hall, their performances as Ensemble ACJW were called "dazzling" and "dynamic;" "categories be damned." (New York Times)

In its inaugural 2011-2012 Season, The Declassified is creating extended residencies in Iceland, South Carolina, and Florida, and has joined the artist roster for Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections program, presenting concerts and workshops at New York City's major hospitals. From April 26 to 29, 2012, The Declassified will take New York City by storm in a Launch Weekend of events that will showcase the exciting diversity of talent and expertise of its artist roster. For more information on Launch and to keep informed of the latest updates, you can subscribe to The Declassified's blog and like them on Facebook.  www.thedeclassified.org

Found Sound Nation -- a project of Bang on a Can

Found Sound Nation (FSN) is an eclectic group of artists who have a strong sense of social engagement. Working with people across the globe, from schools to prisons, from young to old, and partnering with local youth, social organizations, music festivals, and artists across all disciplines, FSN creates an imagined musical nation that transcends geographical, linguistic, and political borders. The work of FSN uses the expressive power of music, audio, and video production to give voice to underrepresented communities, unlock the creative potential of at-risk youth, and build bridges between communities separated by cultures, economic disparities, and geography.

We believe that the art of listening extends far beyond the practice of making music -- it is one of the major ways we can become aware of the beauty, tragedy, and hidden potential present in our neighborhoods, institutions and families.  Our work emphasizes a mobile, accessible, collaborative way of recording and producing professional quality music, a technique developed by combining the innovative art music traditions of our sponsor organization Bang On A Can with traditions of musique concréte, hip hop, and contemporary composition. Our method is highly adaptable to different environments; it draws its strength from working and recording in different spaces, drawing upon the musicians from the local scene, and the sounds of the local atmosphere.  www.foundsoundnation.org

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Claire Bryant, cello
A native of South Carolina, cellist Claire Bryant enjoys an active and diverse career in New York City as a performer of chamber music, contemporary music, and solo cello repertoire. She is equally passionate and committed to her work as an educator and advocate for the inclusion of the arts in society. In 2009, Ms. Bryant founded a community residency project through Chamber Music in South Carolina called Claire Bryant and Friends. This new endeavor brings accomplished young artists to communities for week-long residencies that include collaborative teaching and performing in the public schools, advocacy forums for arts education, and multiple performances in diverse and innovative venues. The 2010 recipient of the Robert Sherman McGraw Hill Companies award for excellence in community outreach and music education, she is a graduate of The Juilliard School and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where her primary teachers have been Bonnie Hampton and Joel Krosnick. Ms. Bryant currently serves as an assistant faculty member at The Juilliard School. Ms. Bryant is an alumna of The Academy.

Brad Balliett, bassoon
Described as an artistic 'instigator' by the New York Times, New York City-based bassoonist and composer Brad Balliett is gaining a reputation for unusual and thought-provoking programming, performance and composition. Currently acting principal bassoon of the Hartford Symphony, Brad performs as a member of several groups around New York City, including Metropolis Ensemble, Signal, Anthony Braxton's Trillium Orchestra, and Ensemble ACJW. Devoted to expanding the bassoon's role in contemporary music, Brad performs frequently on the electric bassoon and has performed alongside Zakir Hussain and Miguel Zenon.

Brad's compositions have been performed around the country, including recent performances by Metropolis Ensemble, Cantori NY, and International Contemporary Ensemble (ICEtank series). He was composer-in-residence for New York City's Chelsea Music Festival 2011, and presented two evening-length concerts of new music at Lucerne Festival 2011 with his hip-hop trio Oracle Hysterical.

Brad graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University in 2005, where he studied composition with Elliot Gyger and John Harbison. He completed an M.M. in bassoon performance as a student of Benjamin Kamins at Rice University, and spent the following year playing bassoon in the Houston Symphony. A devoted teaching artist, Brad completed a fellowship with Carnegie Hall's program The Academy in 2009, through which he taught at PS 315 in Brooklyn and led composition projects for students in the South Bronx.

Meena Bhasin, violin
Meena Bhasin is an entrepreneurial violist who is interested in forging new roles for the classical musician. Her passion for cultural dialogue has led her to projects all over the globe from China and Israel to Iran and Ghana, using the human experience of music as a unifying force for mutual understanding.  At home in New York, Meena created the MUSIC Exchange - a project whose goal was to foster a dialogue between recently resettled refugee youth, students from inner city schools, and professional musicians. In performance Meena pursues her diverse interests, collaborating with a range of world-class artists.   Her recent engagements have included performances with Emanuel Ax and Sir Simon Rattle, appearances with band Vampire Weekend on Saturday Night Live and MTV Unplugged, and a tour of the US as a soloist with legendary British rock band Jethro Tull.

Meena grew up under the tutelage of Itzhak Perlman at the Perlman Music Program, and graduated with honors from a dual degree program in international relations at Tufts University and viola performance at New England Conservatory.

Owen Dalby, violin
Praised as "dazzling" (Anthony Tommasini, New York Times) and "a fearless and inquisitive violinist" (San Francisco Classical Voice), Owen Dalby is hailed for his gripping interpretations of music from across the stylistic spectrum. A specialist in both new and early music, and both violin and viola, Owen brings daring and sophisticated artistry to audiences worldwide.

Recent performances include Lou Harrison's "Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra" at Lincoln Center, and the world premiere of "Look Around You," a concerto by Timothy Andres for solo violin (doubling viola), with the Albany Symphony. Owen is the principal second violinist in the Princeton Symphony, a member of the Orchestra of St Luke's, and appears frequently with leading groups in and around New York City, such as Carnegie Hall's Ensemble ACJW, Argento Chamber Ensemble, and the Metropolis Ensemble. Owen brings a special zeal to music written before 1800, and can be heard on baroque violin with Four Nations Ensemble, Clarion Music Society, and Trinity Wall Street's Baroque Orchestra and Choir.

Owen is regularly invited to perform chamber music at festivals from Hamburg to Honolulu. His collaborators have included Daniel Hope, Dawn Upshaw, the Persian kemancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor, and Simon Rattle. He received early training at the Crowden School in Berkeley, California and bachelor's and master's degrees from Yale University.

Alicia Lee, clarinet
Born into a musical family, Alicia Lee grew up in Michigan where she began her musical studies on the violin and piano at age four. She made the switch to clarinet at the age of 11. Recently, she has performed as a guest with the Milwaukee Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, and the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway. She has participated in a number of festivals including the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Spoleto Festivals in Italy and USA, the Lucerne Festival Academy, Yellow Barn Music Festival, and the Marlboro Music Festival.

Alicia is the associate principal and eb clarinet player of the Santa Barbara Symphony, a position she has held since the Fall of 2006. She performs regularly in New York with a variety of groups, including the Knights Chamber Orchestra, The Wet Ink Ensemble, The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), and the Argento Chamber Ensemble. Alicia holds a B.A. in French Language and Literature from Columbia University, as well as additional degrees from the University of Southern California and the Colburn School, where she was a student of Yehuda Gilad. Alicia served for two seasons as a fellow in The Academy—a program of Carnegie Hall, the Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute (ACJW). She continues to perform as a member of Ensemble ACJW.

Alma Maria Liebrecht, horn
Hornist Alma Maria Liebrecht performs with a with a wide variety of musical groups in New York City and beyond. Alma has performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York City Opera Orchestra, Jupiter Chamber Players, New York Wind Soloists, Argento Chamber Ensemble, the Richmond, Delaware, and Harrisburg Symphonies, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Symphony in C where she was principal horn from 2005-2007. She has also performed at the Music from Angel Fire, 4x4 Baroque (performing on natural horn), and Norfolk Chamber Music Festivals. Alma is a founding member of DZ4, a wind quartet performing new music by young composers and classical string quartet repertoire. A former fellow of The Academy, Alma holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Yale School of Music where she studied under Jerome Ashby and William Purvis respectively. A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Alma runs for the Central Park Track Club and enjoys a double musical life as a violinist.

Kristoffer Saebo, bass
Kristoffer Saebo is a soloist, bass guitarist, chamber musician, and teaching artist. He is a member of the New York Classical Players, SONYC, The Carnegie Ensemble, The Chris Norman Ensemble and performs regularly with Ensemble ACJW, Wordless Music Orchestra, and Argento Chamber Ensemble. As the principal bassist of the Star Wars Orchestra, he joined members of the Boston Pops and Orchestra of St. Luke's in a recent tour of North America in Star Wars in Concert. As a longtime member of iPalpiti, the chamber orchestra of Young Artists International, Mr. Saebo toured Europe, North America, and the Middle East. He has also performed contemporary music with such groups as Metropolis Ensemble and Alarm Will Sound. Mr. Saebo teaches bass privately in Manhattan at Bloomingdale School of Music. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School, where his teachers were Orin O'Brien and Homer Mensch. Mr. Saebo is also an alum of The Academy.

Phillip Bush, piano
Since his New York debut at the Metropolitan Museum, pianist Phillip Bush has appeared as recitalist worldwide, and as concerto soloist with the London infonietta at Carnegie Hall, as well as Osaka Century Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, and Houston Symphony. Mr. Bush has performed and recorded with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, appears frequently at numerous chamber music festivals from Sitka Autumn Classics (Alaska) to St. Bart's in the Caribbean, and with many noted ensembles including the Miami String Quartet and the Kronos Quartet, and with members of the Emerson, Guarneri, Tokyo, St. Lawrence, and Orion String Quartets. In the 1990's Bush performed over 300 concerts in Japan with the piano quartet Typhoon, recording five CDs with the group for Epic/Sony. Bush toured worldwide for over 20 years with both the Philip Glass Ensemble and Steve Reich and Musicians, and was a member of the Milwaukee-based new music group Present Music from 1995 to 2010. Mr. Bush is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory, where he was a student of Leon Fleisher. In 2007 he was appointed Music Director of the Chamber Music Conference and Composers' Forum of the East, a summer music program in Bennington, Vermont.

Found Sound Nation
Found Sound Nation (FSN) is an eclectic group of artists who have a strong sense of social engagement. Working with people across the globe, from schools to prisons, from young to old, and partnering with local youth, social organizations, music festivals, and artists across all disciplines, FSN creates an imagined musical nation that transcends geographical, linguistic, and political borders. The work of FSN uses the expressive power of music, audio, and video production to give voice to under-represented communities, unlock the creative potential of at-risk youth, and build bridges between communities separated by cultures, economic disparities, and geography.

Christopher Marianett
Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Found Sound Nation
Christopher Marianetti, Co-Founder & Artistic Director of Found Sound Nation, is a composer, producer, and educator from Albuquerque, NM. His works have premiered at the International Gaudeamus Competition, Merkin Concert Hall, Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art (Mass MoCA), The Stone, Galapagos, and the Tenri Cultural Institute among others. His Animated Scores series have been presented at 21c Liederabend, NY and the Twin Cities Nuit Blanche, MN and his latest large scale animated score for brass band will premiere on the sides of Manhattan buildings as a part of the 2011 Make Music NY Winter Festival. His collaboration, A Novel In The Form Of A Car Bomb an experimental radio play with a vehicular orchestra (eight cars) and a live chorus, which premiered at Industry City, Brooklyn in 2009. Chris has been a composer-in-residence with Bang On A Can Summer Institute of Music, Ashram Paryavarn Vidhyalaya in India, La Granja Arts Center in Mexico, and NYU/ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop. In 2009, Chris co-founded Found Sound Nation, a team of composers, producers and musicians who utilize a mobile production studio set up to design and lead socially engaged music projects. With Found Sound Nation, Chris has led site-specific music and audio projects in India, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Italy, and Switzerland and was recently awarded the PopTech Social Innovation Fellows Award. Chris trained in composition at the Accademia Internazionale della Musica in Milan, Italy and received his master's in music composition from Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. Chris is an active teaching artist with the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, and has led workshops through Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections Program and Cultural Exchange Program.

Jeremy Thal
Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Found Sound Nation
Jeremy Thal is a horn player, composer, and educator. He studied horn, ethnomusicology, and Chinese at Northwestern University, and has since played in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and jazz groups in China, Mexico, and the U.S. As an educator, Jeremy is an active teaching artist through the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, and has led workshops in Mexico and New York through Carnegie Hall's Cultural Exchange Program. He has also taught music in China (in Chinese) and community garden-building workshops in Chicago for high school students. He composes and produces music for film, theater, web sites, and video games. He recently recorded and toured with the critically acclaimed indie-rock band The National, and co-leads his own band, The Briars of North America. Jeremy and Chris Marianetti formed Found Sound Nation in 2007. Found Sound Nation is a program of the renowned new music organization Bang on a Can.

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