About
An international ensemble exploring the future of percussion through composition, education and technology.
Taking elements of jazz and contemporary classical music, Ensemble Evolution creates musical experiments by incorporating improvisation, new media, and music technology into their original concept of a 21st century percussion ensemble.
Ensemble Evolution came together in September 2010 in Piteå, northern Sweden to explore new music, composition and improvisation. Their first project was a collaboration with their mentor, mallet specialist Anders Åstrand, as well as international artists Dave Samuels and Evaristo Aguilar.
In 2011 the group created and directed the inaugural Piteå Percussion Repertoire Festival, attracting students and professionals from around the world. The festival concert series featured the premieres of new works from each member of the ensemble. The group toured Sweden in May 2011 in collaboration with vocalist, Anna Larson and Anders Åstrand and in November 2011, Ensemble Evolution were guest artists at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, forming “The Arctic Connection” with Ensemble 64.8.
Ensemble Evolution toured to Australia in 2012 with their original Solstormen program, hosted a series of visiting artists in Piteå and was an ensemble in residence at the Nordplus IP Music Laboratory THE PROCESS in Vilnius, Lithuania. Their residency in Sweden culminated with their NattMusik Tour of Northern Sweden and their performance of six new works commissioned by the boutique Treehotel at Harads.
Ensemble Evolution’s first album, “Sounds from the Treetops” was released in February 2013. Following this release, the ensemble was invited to perform the set at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to this appearance, the ensemble completed a three-day residency at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, exploring the connections between sound and nature.
Ensemble Evolution proudly endorses Grover Pro Percussion products and thank the Grover team for their support of our projects!
Personnel
Maria Finkelmeier is a passionate performer, educator, composer and active arts entrepreneur. She currently serves as Program Manager in the Entrepreneurial Musicianship Department at the New England Conservatory, helping to equip young artists with the skills they need to build fulfilling musical lives. Prior to joining the NEC community, she spent three years in Northern Sweden at the Piteå Institution for Music and Media as an artist in residence and international coordinator. mariafinkelmeier.com
Charles Martin is a specialist in percussion and computer music from Canberra, Australia. Having studied mathematics, computer science and percussion performance he is active as a new media performance artist with works featured in the Brisbane Festival 2010, Electrofringe 2011, New Interfaces for Music Expression conference and Australasian Computer Music Conference. charlesmartin.com.au
Jacob Remington is a percussionist and composer from Fort Worth, Texas. A semi finalist in the 2009 Paris International Marimba Competition, he is a regular soloist and has also performed in professional ensembles such as the London Contemporary Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. Jake is developing the percussion repertoire through his composition and collaboration with other artists and his music is published by C. Alan publications.
Guest Artists
Anna K. Larson is a classically trained singer from Frändefors, Sweden. Anna regularly performs with various mixed ensembles. She is passionate about exploring new ways to interpret words and music, presenting a fresh perspective on existing repertoire as well as newly composed works. Doing so, she hopes to develop the repertoire for classical singing with non-conventional instruments.
Angela Shankar is an active freelance clarinetist, music educator, and Zumba® instructor based in New York City. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Angela studied at Carnegie Mellon University and the Eastman School of Music, where she received the Performer’s Certificate. A dedicated educator, Angela has extensive experience teaching clarinet, theory and general music. She works with the Harmony Program in Brooklyn and the preparatory division at Mannes College. Angela premiered “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra,” dedicated to her by composer Seth Bedford, with the Chelsea Symphony in 2012. She has performed at La Fenice in Venice, the United Nations, Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, and at the Library of Congress on NPR’s “From the Top”. www.angelashankar.com