The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music is elated to announce that hybrid arts ensemble, The Fourth Wall will be coming to Memphis for a residency in January, with a special performance open to the public on January 25.
The Fourth Wall explores a new hybrid of the performing arts in which musicians are also dancers and actors. Stretching the boundaries of instrumental performance, The Fourth Wall commissions new interdisciplinary works and reinterprets established repertoire to make music that leaps off the stage. The ensemble is comprised of flutist Hilary Abigana, bass trombonist Neil Parsons, and percussionist Greg Jukes.
Their performances have taken them all across North America in a variety of settings from theatre festivals to six National Flute Association annual conventions. The accomplished ensemble won the 2014 Savvy Musician in Action chamber music competition and was presented at the innovative music entrepreneurship retreat as performers and workshop leaders.
During their time in Winnipeg they received 5 stars from both the CBC, Manitoba, and the Winnipeg Free Press for their vaudeville-inspired show, “Fruit Flies Like a Banana” and their nostalgic journey into childhood, “Fallen from the Toy Box.”
“FIVE STARS. Serious music by seriously talented musicians in a show that doesn’t take itself seriously at all.” — CBC MANITOBA
During their residency at UofM, The Fourth Wall will offer a variety of workshops, masterclasses, and performances that teach students how to incorporate interdisciplinary performance techniques into their creative work. Over their 5 days The Fourth Wall will work with our students on stage presence, Stage Presence 101; working with our peers, Learning from Our Peers: Vocal and Instrumental Music Workshop, Connecting the dots: Collaboration and Ensemble Building Workshop; and discuss education tools, The Games: Dance and Theatre Activities for Interdisciplinary Music Education.
The Fourth Wall will also spend time with several of our studio classes, including flute, trombone, and percussion. They will also work with our vocal students in You are Your Instrument: Performance Workshop for Vocalists.
While in town the community will get the chance to see this engaging ensemble live and in person at Harris Hall as well as at the Crosstown Concourse.
“…I found the members of The Fourth Wall to be an exciting and professionally engaging group of musicians to work with. In my opinion, they exemplify the dedication and enthusiasm it takes for an artistic group to continue to make strides in their field… I would be personally excited to work with them again…”- Justin Casginhino, DMA Founder/ Director, The Boston Composers’ Coalition Departments of Composition + Theory; Boston University, MIT, Umass Lowell.
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music can’t wait to see the impact this top-tier ensemble residency will have on our students. Purchase tickets to the January 25 performance at 7:30 PM at Harris Concert Hall.
“Their musicianship would be impressive if they just stood still and stared at their music stands and their acrobatics would impress if they never saw an instrument, but together they make stage magic.”- Ink19.com