School of Music

DePauw School of Music is pleased to welcome eighth blackbird as Ensemble-in-Residence for the 2007-2008 academic year. The ensemble will offer performances, coachings, and lectures as part of their residency at DePauw.

Hailed as ambassadors of new music, eighth blackbird has a growing reputation for its astounding musical versatility as well as for its dedication to the works of today's composers. "This young and phenomenally gifted sextet offered a note-perfect lesson in how to purvey contemporary music...the result was nearly two hours of artistic delight, a heady mix of virtuoso display, engaging wit, and tender eloquence" stated the San Francisco Chronicle of a recent performance. The ensemble consists of members Tim Munro, flutes, Matt Albert, violin and viola, Matthew Duvall, percussion, Michael Maccaferri, clarinets, Nicholas Photinos, cello, and Lisa Kaplan, pianist.

Described by The New Yorker as "friendly, unpretentious, idealist, and highly skilled," eighth blackbird promises its ever-increasing audiences provocative and engaging performances. It is widely lauded for its performing style -- often playing from memory with virtuosic and theatrical flair -- and its efforts to make music accessible to wide audiences.

eighth blackbird will give two performances as part of their residency at DePauw. Their opening concert occured on September 23, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts. The group will perform a second concert on February 2, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium. Additionally, they will take part in the Post-Classical Symposium as featured guests on November 30-December 1.

eighth blackbird's 2007-2008 residency at DePauw is made possible through the generous support of the Elizabeth P. Allen Distinguished University Professorship Fund