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Meet the Artists in Residence 2025: Workshops, Concerts & Creativity
Meet the Artist in Residence Class of 2025! This year’s class represents a delightfully diverse range of instruments, styles, and genres. Workshops are free!
JANUARY: HASAN IMAM HAMDANI, GUITAR
Concert 1: Strings Across Continents—Wed, January 15
Experience the magic of cross-continental collaboration with guitarist and composer Hasan Imam Hamdan as he performs original compositions that traverse the musical landscapes of South Asia and West Africa. Joined by renowned sarod player Manik Khan, Hamdani weaves together ancient traditions and modern innovations, accompanied by a string quartet featuring Erin Murphy Snedecor (cello), Kimia Hesabi (viola), and Celaya Kirschner and Natalia Merezhuk (violin). Spanish composer Daniel Osiewala’s string arrangements tie together this unique musical journey.
Workshop: Mysticism in Music—Wed, January 22
Explore how mystic practices are shaped by music, with a focus on Pakistani Qawwali music, Indian classical music, and ‘Sufi’ music from Turkey. Guitarist Hasan Imam Hamdan dives into the question: Can music create mystic ecstasy?
Concert 2: Threads of Tradition: Connecting Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran—Wed, January 29
Enjoy an unforgettable evening where music weaves together the shared legacies and distinct voices of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Led by guitarist and composer Hasan Imam Hamdani, the concert explores the rich traditions of Persian, Afghan, and Pakistani music and literature, celebrating their deep cultural connections while honoring their unique identities.
FEBRUARY: MAXIMILIAN JACOBS, JAZZ VIOLIN
Concert 1: Remembering Eddie South—Wed, February 12
Violinist Maximilian Jacobs pays tribute to legendary African American jazz violinist Eddie South, who played with 20th-century greats like Django Reinhardt, Stuff Smith, and Benny Goodman. Jacobs performs South's famous recordings, original compositions, and the Hungarian folk music that inspired him. Readings of letters and clippings will round around this celebration of South's musical contributions
Workshop: The History and Impact of the Jam Session—Wed, February 19
Raised in the Baltimore jam scene, violinist Maximilian Jacobs dives into the history of jam sessions and their importance in today’s DMV music community. A jam session, where musicians gather to improvise and share music, has long been central to jazz, fostering creativity and collaboration. Jacobs will explore how these sessions, found throughout DC and Baltimore across jazz, blues, old-time, and Irish music, serve as vital hubs for building musical talent and keeping traditions alive.
Concert 2: Symphonic Jazz—Wed, February 26
Violinist Maximilian Jacobs debuts original compositions that blend symphonic writing with big band arranging. Drawing inspiration from gypsy jazz, klezmer, and Eastern European folk music, Jacobs blurs the lines between classical and jazz. His music weaves together the rich traditions and improvisational spirit of non-classical styles with the beauty and craft of classical composition.
MARCH: QI YU, GUZHENG
Concert 1: From Ancient to Contemporary: The Guzheng’s Development Over Time—Wed, March 12
Explore the rich history and evolution of the guzheng with AIR Qi Yu as she showcases the Chinese zither's traditional roots to its modern-day versatility. Along with contemporary compositions, Yu will perform nine distinct regional styles demonstrating how beautifully this instrument adapts to today’s musical influences.
Workshop: Exploring the Guzheng: A Comprehensive Guide to Its History, Styles, and Techniques—Wed, March 19
Discover the guzheng, a Chinese zither with deep cultural roots. During this hands-on workshop, AIR Qi Yu dives into the instrument’s fascinating history, its various styles, and basic playing techniques. The session will also highlight the rich diversity of guzheng music, focusing on nine traditional regional styles—from Shaanxi (陕西) and Henan (河南) to Mongolia (蒙古) and Korea (朝鲜)—each reflecting the unique culture of its area.
Concert 2: Ancient Chinese Sound Meets the Western Voice—Wed, March 26
This concert explores the dynamic interplay between Chinese and Western musical styles, highlighting the versatility and universal appeal of the guzheng, a Chinese zither, and other traditional instruments. Qi Yu's performance challenges the perception of the guzheng by breaking cultural boundaries and redefining how we think about this timeless instrument.
APRIL: JACK GRUBER, PIANO
Concert 1: Wed, April 9
Pianist Jack Gruber blends jazz with pop and anime influences to create his own unique sound. In addition to his original pieces, he offers fresh takes on jazz standards and contemporary pop songs with a distinctive approach and perspective.
Workshop: Our Standards: Applying Jazz Improvisation and Reharmonization Techniques to Contemporary Pop Music—Wed, April 16
Jazz has always maintained a close connection with popular music, especially during its early years and the bebop era. Many pieces from "The American Songbook" were not just standards but also widely recognized hits. Bebop musicians, with their deep understanding of harmony and rhythm, transformed these familiar tunes into expressive and unique creations that are still enjoyed today. In this workshop, pianist Jack Gruber explores how jazz techniques like improvisation and reharmonization can be applied to modern pop music.
Concert 2: Wed, April 23
Jack Gruber and his string quartet reimagine the traditional chamber music concert with a performance that spans genres and generations, weaving together contemporary pop, anime soundtracks, jazz standards, and video game themes into lush and richly textured arrangements. Join Jack as he presents both original compositions and dynamic interpretations of familiar favorites, adding a new dimension to these beloved melodies.
MAY: MARCEL PENZES, TROMBONE
Concert 1: Mardi Gras in May!—Wed, May 14
Trombonist and composer Marcel Penzes showcases the spirit of New Orleans jazz, from the sweet melodies of French Quarter music halls to the lively, soulful sounds of the Crescent City’s streets. Celebrating jazz as it was originally intended—a joyful, collective expression of life—Penzes will perform music from the songbooks of Louis Armstrong, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and more. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Free Workshop: Wed, May 21
In the early 20th century, the musical and cultural exchange between Caribbean nations and New Orleans played a key role in the birth of jazz. In this workshop, trombonist Marcel Penzes explores jazz history, exploring questions like: Where did Louis Armstrong find inspiration for his distinct trumpet style? What is the “Spanish tinge”? And why are Havana and New Orleans more alike than we might think?
Concert 2: Jazz from the Americas—Wed, May 28
Trombonist and composer Marcel Penzes, joined by an all-star lineup of DMV musicians, showcases the diverse and infectious rhythms of Pan-America. Spanning salsa, cha-chá, bolero, and more, this high-energy performance takes audiences from the 1950s mambo scene at New York City’s Palladium to a Cuban jam session, or descargo, in Havana.
JUNE: GABBY CAMERON, BANJO
Concert 1: Gabby Cameron with Cherry Blossom Special—Wed, June 11
Banjoist and songwriter Gabby Cameron joins forces with DC-based progressive bluegrass sextet Cherry Blossom Special to celebrate the rich traditions of Appalachian string band music. This whimsical performance, blending Cameron’s nuanced folk songwriting with bluegrass classics, explores the intersection of tradition and modernity, asking: what do the stories we tell reveal about who we are?
Free Workshop: Banjo Breakdown: Resonating Histories of Bluegrass Banjo Performance Styles—Wed, June 18
When thinking of bluegrass banjo, the song “Dueling Banjos,” “The Beverly Hillbillies” theme, or the book “That Half-Barbaric Twang” may come to mind. Led by ethnomusicologist Gabby Cameron, this workshop explores the history and evolution of bluegrass banjo, from pioneering players like Earl Scruggs to technique innovators like Bill Keith and Béla Fleck. Learn how these players’ distinct styles set the stage for contemporary bluegrass banjo.
Concert 2: Gabby Cameron & "New Anthropology"—Wed, June 25
With her new project, “New Anthropology,” Gabby Cameron debuts a collection of original compositions and creatively arranged covers, featuring collaborations with musicians from around the world. An ethnomusicologist, she is redefining the role of music scholars by using performance as a tool for engagement and connection across cultures.
CONTACT
10701 Rockville Pike
North Bethesda, MD 20852
United States
