KHASMA PIANO DUO Ashlee Mack and Katherine Palumbo

Transcription

1 KHASMA PIANO DUO Ashlee Mack and Katherine Palumbo The Khasma Piano Duo was formed in 2012 by Ashlee Mack and Katherine Palumbo, who have been playing together since meeting as undergraduates at Bucknell University in Because they share a passion for contemporary music, the duo has dedicated themselves to the performance of works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Their call-for-scores concert tours have taken them to Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. They recently performed at the SCI National Conference at Ball State University and were invited to give a program of American contemporary works for the Illinois College Fine Arts Series. In January 2015, Khasma presented the world premiere of Robert Morrisʼ Forty Fingers for eight hands at the Eastman School of Music. They have also premiered and recorded James Romigʼs Time Seems to Pass for two pianos and will premiere David Vayoʼs Times and Places in Spring During the summers of 2015 and 2016, the duo will record twelve works chosen from their call for scores project. Their debut album, Switchback, is available at several sites including CD Baby, Amazon, and itunes.

2 BIOGRAPHIES Pianist Ashlee Mack has given recitals in Germany, Italy, and across the United States. Specializing in contemporary music, she has performed solo and chamber music with organizations such as the Society for Chromatic Art, Vox Novus, New Music Forum, Iowa Composers Forum, New Music Festival at Western Illinois University, Bowling Green New Music Festival, Aspen Composers Conference at the Aspen Institute, PASIC, and SCI. Mackʼs recordings of Odds and Ends by Robert Morris and For Milton by Christian Carey are featured on a Milton Babbitt memorial CD published by Perspectives of New Music/Open Space. Her recording of James Romigʼs Transparencies was recently released on Navona Records. Upcoming events include a world premiere with composer/pianist David Maki, a commissioning project with flutist John McMurtery, and Khasma Piano Duo concert tours and recordings. She was an artist-in-residence at Wupatki National Monument and Grand Canyon National Park in December 2013 and participated as an auditor at the 2015 June in Buffalo New Music Festival. Primary teachers include Lois Svard (Bucknell University), Michael Adcock (Washington, DC), and Alan Huckleberry (University of Iowa). Mack is currently the Coordinator of Piano Instruction at in Galesburg, Illinois. Katherine Palumbo is a pianist, vocalist and advocate for the performance of contemporary music. As a founding member of both the Khasma Piano Duo and Trillium Ensemble (flute, clarinet and piano trio) she is passionate about collaborating with others on uniquely programmed concerts and has premiered pieces by notable composers such as James Romig, Robert Morris, Federico Garcia, Efrain Amaya, Nathan Hall, Matthew Heap, and Mark Fromm. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Palumbo has performed with organizations such as the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Alia Musica, OvreArts and has performed live on Classical WQED 89.3 FM. She has been an accompanist at Duquesne University, a vocal coach and accompanist for Chatham Universityʼs Minna Kaufmann Ruud Scholars, and director of music for Incarnation of Lord Catholic Church. Palumbo earned her degree in piano performance from Bucknell University where she studied with Barry Hannigan. Other notable piano teachers include Maria Caruso and Ralph Zitterbart of Pittsburgh, PA. She received her Alexander Technique teaching certificate from the Philadelphia School of the Alexander Technique under the instruction of Martha Hansen Fertman. She currently teaches piano and the Alexander Technique from her home in Pittsburgh. Upcoming projects in 2015/2016 include a tour and CD release of works chosen from Khasma Piano Duoʼs call for scores, and Trillium Ensembleʼs collaboration with composer Mark Fromm on The Silent Spring Project as part of the New Hazlett Theater of Pittsburgh CSA (Community Supported Art) Performance Series. CONTACT WEBSITE: [email protected] FACEBOOK:

3 REPERTOIRE LIST Daniel Adams Double Helix (2 pianos) John Adams Hallelujah Junction (2 pianos) Jean Ahn Fingerdance (4 hands) Samuel Barber Souvenirs, Op. 28 (2 pianos) William Bolcom The Serpent's Kiss (2 pianos) Paul Bowles Sonata (2 pianos) Benjamin Broening Double Nocturne (2 pianos) Kyong Mee Choi In Void (2 pianos) Cosimo Colazzo Stanze (4 hands) Claude Debussy Nuages (2 pianos) Marti Epstein memories of 13 snowflakes (4 hands) Morton Feldman Intermission 6 (2 pianos) Matthew Heap TBA** Jackson Hill Toro Nagashi (2 pianos) Alan Hovhaness Mihr, Op. 60 (2 pianos) Michael Ippolito pianoduo (4 hands) David Maki Three Preludes (2 pianos) Jocelyn Morlock half-light, somnolent rains (2 pianos) Robert Morris Simple Stars (2 pianos) Forty Fingers (2 pianos, 8 hands)* Lawrence Moss Omaggio (4 hands) De Profundis (2 pianos)** James Romig Time Seems To Pass (2 pianos)** Igor Stravinsky Tango (2 pianos) David Vayo Times and Places (2 pianos/2 keyboards)* Symeon Waseen Clockwork II (4 hands or 2 pianos) Amy Williams Crossings (4 hands) Nina Young Kolokol (2 pianos and electronics) *world premiere **world premiere and written for the Khasma Piano Duo

4 PAST and UPCOMING PERFORMANCES FALL 2016 October 21, 4:00PM Chatham University Welker Room, James Laughlin Music Hall SPRING 2016 February 27, 7:30PM Illinois Wesleyan University Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall Featuring the world premiere of David Vayo's Times and Places FALL 2015 August 30, 4:00PM Bucknell University Natalie Davis Rooke Recital Hall October 17, 7:30PM Illinois College Fine Arts Series Rammelkamp Chapel October 18, 3:00PM SPRING 2015 January 24, 8:00PM Eastman School of Music Hatch Recital Hall Featuring the world premiere of Robert Morris' Forty Fingers for 8 hands with Amy Xuan Zhang, Daniel Pesca, and Oliver Hagen April 10, 5:30PM Ball State University Sursa Hall FALL 2014 August 27, 7:30PM Western Illinois University COFAC Recital Hall James Romig's Time Seems to Pass (extended version) September 28, 3:00PM October 2, 6:30PM Northern Illinois University Recital Hall October 3, 5:00PM University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Light Recital Hall James Romig's Times Seems To Pass (extended version)

5 October 3, 7:30PM University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Light Recital Hall The Sonict Ensemble New Music Series SPRING 2014 Society of Composers, Inc. National Convention Ball State University, Sursa Hall March 21 10:00AM Featuring James Romig's Time Seems to Pass and David Maki's Three Preludes FALL 2013 October 1, 7:30PM Western Illinois University COFAC Recital Hall October 2, 4:00PM Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel October 4, 7:30PM October 6, 4:00PM Bucknell University Natalie Davis Rooke Recital Hall