Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

Kimmel Center Presents Fresh Ink Continues with Eighth Blackbird November 4
Performance Includes World Premiere Commissioned by Kimmel Center Presents and American Composers Forum
October 11, 2004

The startling sextet eighth blackbird will bring its unique classical music "jam session" to the Perelman Theater on November 4, 2004 at 7:30pm as part of the Kimmel Center Presents Fresh Ink series. Fresh Ink is sponsored by WRTI and features artists who are composing and performing the most thrilling 21st century classical music being written today. Eighth blackbird’s performance will feature Rzewski’s "Les Moutons de Panurge," a Philadelphia premiere of "Zaka" by Curtis Institute of Music’s Jennifer Higdon and a world premiere by composer and Bucks County native David Ludwig, commissioned by American Composers Forum and Kimmel Center Presents.

Since its founding in 1996, eighth blackbird has been active in commissioning new works from eminent composers—most notably Frederic Rzewski and George Perle—as well as ground-breaking works from Jennifer Higdon, Derek Bermel, David Schober, Daniel Kellogg, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez and the Minimum Security Composers Collective.

The sextet is comprised of clarinetist Michael J. Maccaferri, flutist Molly Alicia Barth, violinist Matthew Albert, cellist Nicholas Photinos, pianist Lisa Kaplan and percussionist Matthew Duvall.

Regarded as one of the premier new music groups in the world, eighth blackbird has established a reputation for its provocative and engaging performances. The winners of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award and the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, where they were the first contemporary ensemble to win first prize, the group is also a three-time recipient of the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. In addition, the group has been featured on CBS’ Sunday Morning and was the subject of a profile in The New York Times. The ensemble is currently in residence at the University of Richmond in Virginia and the University of Chicago.

The music of David Ludwig has been called "entrancing" (Philadelphia Inquirer) has gained recognition for its "expressive directness" (The New York Times) and has been noted for "a sense of integrity and security of craftsmanship" (New Jersey Star Ledger). His works have been performed in such major venues in the United States as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Merkin Hall and have been heard in Canada, England, France, Italy, Japan, and Spain. Eighth blackbird’s performance marks Ludwig’s Kimmel Center debut.

In addition to the concert, eighth blackbird will participate in the Kimmel Center Presents Artist Chat series, in which the artists talk with the audience from the stage following the performance.

Tickets for the November 4 performance by eighth blackbird are $21 & $26 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. For group sales call 215-790-5883.

A limited number of $10 tickets will be available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. $10 tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm for evening performances and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one per person.

Sponsors of the 2004-2005 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Bank of America, Sovereign Bank, Wachovia Foundation, The American Express Company, Verizon Foundation, Bucks County Coffee and SEPTA, the Commuter's Choice. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming.

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