upcoming events
screen door festival - season finale | camden, me
The culmination of a week of music-making, dialogue, and a shared journey toward enlightenment, our Season Finale brings together many of the extraordinary artists who have shaped Screen Door Festival 2025. At the heart of the program is the U.S. Premiere of Songs for Judith, a deeply moving work by Canadian composer Matthew Ricketts, setting nine poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay to music. The cycle will be performed by baritone Jesse Blumberg with Balourdet Quartet and the pianist Danny Zalibor. Also featured in this celebratory evening are mezzo-soprano Devony Smith, Palaver Strings, The Westerlies, Vuyo Sotashe, pianist-composer Chris Pattishall, and piano duo Michael Shinn and Jessica Chow Shinn. This final gathering is not only a closing, it is a convergence: of artistic voices, dynamic collaborations, and the open-hearted listening that has defined our time together this summer.
side x side chamber orchestra concert | ithaca, ny
Palaver joins forces with the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra as part of a residency that explores chamber music making and communication. Program coming soon!
port city ft. heyni solera | ithaca, ny
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
join us for a movement workshop before the show!
port city ft. heyni solera | lenox, ma
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
join us for a movement workshop before the show!
port city ft. heyni solera | brooksville, me
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
doors open at 4:30pm for dinner at Tinder Hearth. visit ticket link for details.
join us for a movement workshop before the show
port city ft. heyni solera | portland, me
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
join us for a movement workshop before the show!
port city ft. heyni solera | brattleboro, vt
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
join us for a movement workshop before the show!
port city ft. heyni solera | boston, ma
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
join us for a movement workshop at the start of the show!
port city ft. heyni solera | baltimore, md
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
port city ft. heyni solera | new york, ny
Port City explores tango music throughout the genre’s history, and features bandoneon visionary Heyni Solera as soloist and composer. Palaver will perform danceable classics alongside contemporary tango-inspired compositions. We will also welcome powerhouse dancers Luna Beller-Tadiar and Sheila Solis Arroyo to join us for a full tanda, or series of tango dances. This performance will celebrate tango’s ongoing evolution and the powerful interplay between music and dance, as well as how the genre is being reclaimed by marginalized identities, especially women and queer artists.
chamber series - testimonies | nobleboro, me
Testimonies draws from personal stories, historical documents, and academic revival, inviting the listener to engage with themes of heritage, home, and remembrance. Charlton Singleton’s Testimony evokes Gullah traditions and the music of the African Methodist Church, while Derrick Skye’s American Mirror reflects on American multiculturalism more broadly. Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate’s Pisachi (Reveal) draws on Pueblo and Hopi traditional music, and Shelly Washington’s Middleground meditates on home as both physical and emotional refuge. Testimonies encourages reflection on identity and cultural legacy.
chamber series - testimonies | portland, me
Testimonies draws from personal stories, historical documents, and academic revival, inviting the listener to engage with themes of heritage, home, and remembrance. Charlton Singleton’s Testimony evokes Gullah traditions and the music of the African Methodist Church, while Derrick Skye’s American Mirror reflects on American multiculturalism more broadly. Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate’s Pisachi (Reveal) draws on Pueblo and Hopi traditional music, and Shelly Washington’s Middleground meditates on home as both physical and emotional refuge. Testimonies encourages reflection on identity and cultural legacy.
chamber series - testimonies | portland, me
Testimonies draws from personal stories, historical documents, and academic revival, inviting the listener to engage with themes of heritage, home, and remembrance. Charlton Singleton’s Testimony evokes Gullah traditions and the music of the African Methodist Church, while Derrick Skye’s American Mirror reflects on American multiculturalism more broadly. Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate’s Pisachi (Reveal) draws on Pueblo and Hopi traditional music, and Shelly Washington’s Middleground meditates on home as both physical and emotional refuge. Testimonies encourages reflection on identity and cultural legacy.
palaver gathering | portland, me
Save the date for Palaver’s annual Gathering celebration!!
chamber series | night sky and the number pi - featuring michele kennedy | newburyport, ma
This concert takes the audience on a journey through a rich tapestry of intense emotional landscapes: relentless determination, the jubilant celebration of true love, the sorrow of forbidden passion, and the searing frustration of being misunderstood. These deeply evocative works are paired with pieces that explore quieter, more reflective themes—visiting a coffee shop, contemplating the intricate structure of an orange, gazing at the night sky, and pondering the endless mystery of the number pi. This deliberate contrast offers the audience both a musical reprieve and a gentle reminder that our emotional experience does not always need to be dominated by extremes. In embracing the mundane with the same reverence as the monumental, these composers invite us to find meaning and vitality in the everyday. Palaver will be joined by acclaimed soprano Michele Kennedy.
friends of kotzschmar organ - palaver quintet w. james kennerly | portland, me
Shake off the winter blues with a joyful, family-friendly concert that brings the spirit of spring to life. Grammy-nominated ensemble Palaver Strings joins Portland Municipal Organist James Kennerley for a fresh and imaginative take on early and modern classical music, revealing the gentler side of the mighty Kotzschmar Organ. This shorter, immersive performance is perfect for all ages, featuring floral-inspired projections, creative lighting, and stage décor that transform Merrill Auditorium into a blooming, musical landscape. Celebrating the flora, fauna, and flourishing artistry of Maine, this unique collaboration offers a midwinter moment of beauty, renewal, and wonder for the whole family.
apple of their eyes | lewiston, me
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
We conclude with the lush romantic string writing of Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still, linked by themes of spirituality, meditation, and familial bonds. The Apple of their Eyes encapsulates the African-American experience, and celebrates the richness and depth of Black classical music.
apple of their eyes | portland, me (family concert)
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
We conclude with the lush romantic string writing of Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still, linked by themes of spirituality, meditation, and familial bonds. The Apple of their Eyes encapsulates the African-American experience, and celebrates the richness and depth of Black classical music.
apple of their eyes | portland, me
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
We conclude with the lush romantic string writing of Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still, linked by themes of spirituality, meditation, and familial bonds. The Apple of their Eyes encapsulates the African-American experience, and celebrates the richness and depth of Black classical music.
apple of their eyes | brooklyn, ny
This program explores the African-American experience in classical music, through the eyes of Black composers. It begins with the “blues” movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2, arranged for string orchestra and solo violin, and continues with Julia Perry’s Prelude for Piano, a nuanced, neoclassic gem full of anticipation and reflection. At the heart of the program is Edmund Thornton Jenkins Romance and Reverie Phantasy for Violin and String Orchestra, restored, edited, and arranged by Tuffus Zimbabwe.
We conclude with the lush romantic string writing of Adolphus Hailstork and William Grant Still, linked by themes of spirituality, meditation, and familial bonds. The Apple of their Eyes encapsulates the African-American experience, and celebrates the richness and depth of Black classical music.
dancing home | scarborough, me
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues. This program also features Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Dances, original tunes by Maya French and Jamie Oshima, and Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, commissioned by Palaver in 2022. Dancing Home celebrates social dance as a meeting place for tradition and innovation, and a vehicle for building resilience, joy, and trust
dancing home | portland, me
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues. This program also features Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Dances, original tunes by Maya French and Jamie Oshima, and Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, commissioned by Palaver in 2022. Dancing Home celebrates social dance as a meeting place for tradition and innovation, and a vehicle for building resilience, joy, and trust
dancing home | cambridge, ma
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues. This program also features Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Dances, original tunes by Maya French and Jamie Oshima, and Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, commissioned by Palaver in 2022. Dancing Home celebrates social dance as a meeting place for tradition and innovation, and a vehicle for building resilience, joy, and trust
a change is gonna come | san francisco, ca
Featuring Grammy award-winning tenor Nicholas Phan, this program explores our country’s rich legacy of protest songs. Repertoire includes traditional songs of protest and music inspired by social movements and historical events, including Nico Muhly’s Stranger, Akenya Seymour’s Fear the Lamb, and a new commission by Errollyn Wallen. Spanning genres, eras, and movements, A Change Is Gonna Come provokes conversation, confronts our past and present, and celebrates the act of protest as one of our most precious rights.
screen door festival - dancing home | camden, me
The Portland-based, GRAMMY-nominated chamber orchestra Palaver Strings has distinguished itself with its spirit of curiosity and eagerness to collaborate across musical genres and traditions. Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience anchored by the rhythms of dance. At the core of the program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom, a work that reimagines the traditional Middle Eastern dabke dance with a structure that allows any musician to lead. This choreography of trust speaks to the human need for connection and shared agency. From Sidney Boquiren’s poignant A Prayer for Immigrants to Bongani Ndodana-Breen’s Apologia at Umzimvuba, a piece rooted in reflection and justice, the music tells stories of the lives behind each rhythm. The program includes new commissioned works by composers Maya French and Jamie Oshima, alongside folk music from Syria and the Balkans. Dancing Home invites us to move, listen, and expand our definition of home.
screen door festival - vuyo sotashe & chris pattishall | camden, me
In this acclaimed collaboration, South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and pianist/composer Chris Pattishall come together for an intimate and soulful evening of music. Mainstays of the New York music scene, Vuyo and Chris have each contributed to a wide range of projects spanning jazz, gospel, theater and film. Acclaimed as a tenor who springs with ease from sonorous depths to the top of an impressive range, Vuyo has performed on prestigious jazz stages across the globe. Chris uses jazz tradition as a jumping off point for experimentation. His debut album Zodiac was praised by The New York Times. The music featured in this very special concert is a quiet invocation of community in turbulent times. Ranging from American masterworks to South African Xhosa hymns, Vuyo, Chris and Palaver Strings bring the healing power of music to Screen Door Festival.
screen door festival - mozart in the morning | camden, me
Join us for the second morning of our five-part journey into the world of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, where insight and performance come together. Guided by Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, we turn our attention to the piano concertos, works that place Mozart at both the keyboard and the center of the Classical imagination. This session pairs two strikingly different concerti: C Major, K. 415, brimming with poise and vitality, and the darkly expressive D Minor, K. 466, an outlier in Mozart’s catalogue and a favorite of his contemporary Beethoven. Together, they reveal Mozart’s astonishing range within the Classical form, moving deftly between elegance and turbulence. The morning’s program also features Palaver Strings. Zoot coffee and muffins are available before the concert.
screen door festival - opening concert | camden, me
Our grand opening concert features many performers appearing throughout the week, including Balourdet Quartet, oboist James Austin Smith, violinist Blake Pouliot, Boyd Meets Girl, pianists Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner, Rachel Breen, and piano duo Jessica Chow Shinn and Michael Shinn, baritone Jesse Blumberg, mezzo soprano Devony Smith, jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe, pianist Chris Pattishall, as well as our esteemed resident ensemble, Palaver Strings. This vibrant and multifaceted festival launch begins a journey of creative inspiration and enlightenment that continues throughout the week.
dancing home | cuttyhunk, ma
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues. This program also features Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Dances, original tunes by Maya French and Jamie Oshima, and Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, commissioned by Palaver in 2022. Dancing Home celebrates social dance as a meeting place for tradition and innovation, and a vehicle for building resilience, joy, and trust
this concert is generously sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council and the Gosnold Cultural Council
dancing home | providence, ri
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom commissioned by Palaver in 2024. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues. This program also features Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Dances, original tunes by Maya French and Jamie Oshima, and Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, commissioned by Palaver in 2022. Dancing Home celebrates social dance as a meeting place for tradition and innovation, and a vehicle for building resilience, joy, and trust
summer chamber series | arundel, me
This program explores multiple outlooks on life and chamber music. Described as a “fervent, celebratory investigation into joy itself,” Paul Wiancko’s Lift explodes with adventurous textures that span the full sonic range of the string quartet. The program continues with two short contemplative pieces by Olafur Arnalds, and concludes with Schubert’s epic “Death and the Maiden,” a passionate dance with death that was only published after Schubert’s own death in 1828.
summer chamber series | denmark, me
This program explores multiple outlooks on life and chamber music. Described as a “fervent, celebratory investigation into joy itself,” Paul Wiancko’s Lift explodes with adventurous textures that span the full sonic range of the string quartet. The program continues with two short contemplative pieces by Olafur Arnalds, and concludes with Schubert’s epic “Death and the Maiden,” a passionate dance with death that was only published after Schubert’s own death in 1828.
dancing home | newport, ri
Dancing Home explores themes of heritage, belonging, displacement, and resilience through the lens of dance. At the heart of this program is the world premiere of ḥawwāsh by Kareem Roustom. Inspired by the ḥawwāsh, or lead dancer of a traditional dabke dance, this piece allows any musician to lead the ensemble at any given moment, sharing fluid leadership through physical and sonic cues. This program also features Palaver’s arrangement of Bartok’s Romanian Dances, original tunes by Maya French and Jamie Oshima, and Kinan Azmeh’s Syrian Dances, commissioned by Palaver in 2022. Dancing Home celebrates social dance as a meeting place for tradition and innovation, and a vehicle for building resilience, joy, and trust.
a change is gonna come | steamboat springs, co
A Change Is Gonna Come celebrates the rich legacy of American protest songs, from beloved anthems to new commissions. Our arrangements of 1960s classics explore the sonic palette of strings and voice, with nods to the iconic originals as well as today’s cultural landscape, and the sound worlds of film scores, contemporary chamber music, fiddle, gospel, and more. These songs reflect on individual experiences of oppression and call us to join the collective work of liberation. A Change Is Gonna Come confronts our past and present and celebrates the act of protest as one of our most precious rights.
lifesongs project celebration concert | portland, me
Lifesongs Project celebrates the stories of LGBTQ+ people in our local community. Working with professional songwriters and engineers, project participants write and record original songs of love, loss, courage, and affirmation.
photo by feels like media
palaver music center | spring celebration recital
Come hear the entire After-School Strings Program perform solo and chamber music pieces that they have been working towards this year. The recital will culminate in a full performance of all PMC students!
photo by yoon s. byun
palaver music center: spring solo recital for third through fifth grade
Come hear the Palaver Music Center After-School Strings Program 3rd-5th grade students perform their solo pieces and celebrate their achievements and hard work!
photo by yoon s. byun
but there is this | boston, ma
But There Is This explores our journey through life and our quest for meaning, even when it remains elusive. In works by Corigliano, Mustonen, Yoshimatsu, and Shostakovich, fragments of themes and ideas emerge over time, slowly and imperfectly revealing themselves as part of a larger whole. Each piece takes us on a journey through extreme emotions which are rarely resolved, challenging us to perceive beauty in the small details that make up our lives, even when the whole remains unclear. This program reminds us, in the words of Barabara Ras, that “there is the voice you can still summon at will, like your mother’s/it will always whisper, you can’t have it all, but there is this.”
photo by titilayo ayangade
but there is this | portland, me
But There Is This explores our journey through life and our quest for meaning, even when it remains elusive. In works by Corigliano, Mustonen, Yoshimatsu, and Shostakovich, fragments of themes and ideas emerge over time, slowly and imperfectly revealing themselves as part of a larger whole. Each piece takes us on a journey through extreme emotions which are rarely resolved, challenging us to perceive beauty in the small details that make up our lives, even when the whole remains unclear. This program reminds us, in the words of Barabara Ras, that “there is the voice you can still summon at will, like your mother’s/it will always whisper, you can’t have it all, but there is this.”
photo by titilayo ayangade
but there is this - family concert | portland, me
But There Is This explores our journey through life and our quest for meaning, even when it remains elusive. Inspired from a poem by Barbara Ras, this Family Concert will draw upon the relationship between words and music through works by Corigliano, Mustonen, Yoshimatsu, and Shostakovich. Fragments of themes and ideas emerge over time, slowly and imperfectly revealing themselves as part of a larger whole. Each piece takes us on a journey through extreme emotions which are rarely resolved, challenging us to perceive beauty in the small details that make up our lives, even when the whole remains unclear. This program reminds us, in the words of Barbara Ras, that “there is the voice you can still summon at will, like your mother’s/it will always whisper, you can’t have it all, but there is this.”
photo by titilayo ayangade
but there is this | lewiston, me
But There Is This explores our journey through life and our quest for meaning, even when it remains elusive. In works by Corigliano, Mustonen, Yoshimatsu, and Shostakovich, fragments of themes and ideas emerge over time, slowly and imperfectly revealing themselves as part of a larger whole. Each piece takes us on a journey through extreme emotions which are rarely resolved, challenging us to perceive beauty in the small details that make up our lives, even when the whole remains unclear. This program reminds us, in the words of Barbara Ras, that “there is the voice you can still summon at will, like your mother’s/it will always whisper, you can’t have it all, but there is this.”
photo by titilayo ayangade
songbook | los angeles, ca
Featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and Grammy-nominated pianist Chris Patishall, Songbook celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sotashe’s home country, South Africa. The program includes traditional folk songs in Zulu, Sepedi, and Xhosa, a string quartet by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, choral works by Michael Moreane and Bheki Mseleku, and originals by Vuyo Sotashe, all presented in fresh arrangements for voice, piano, and strings by Chris Patishall. Songbook explores connections between American jazz, South African traditional music, and European classical music, moving fluidly between traditions in a spirit of exploration and joy.
7:30pm - Chris Votek and Neelamjit Dhillon
8:15 - Palaver, Vuyo Sotashe, Chris Patishall
photo by titilayo ayangade
songbook | las vegas, nv
Featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and Grammy-nominated pianist Chris Patishall, Songbook celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sotashe’s home country, South Africa. The program includes traditional folk songs in Zulu, Sepedi, and Xhosa, a string quartet by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, choral works by Michael Moreane and Bheki Mseleku, and originals by Vuyo Sotashe, all presented in fresh arrangements for voice, piano, and strings by Chris Patishall. Songbook explores connections between American jazz, South African traditional music, and European classical music, moving fluidly between traditions in a spirit of exploration and joy.
photo by titilayo ayangade
songbook | las vegas, nv
Featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and Grammy-nominated pianist Chris Patishall, Songbook celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sotashe’s home country, South Africa. The program includes traditional folk songs in Zulu, Sepedi, and Xhosa, a string quartet by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, choral works by Michael Moreane and Bheki Mseleku, and originals by Vuyo Sotashe, all presented in fresh arrangements for voice, piano, and strings by Chris Patishall. Songbook explores connections between American jazz, South African traditional music, and European classical music, moving fluidly between traditions in a spirit of exploration and joy.
photo by titilayo ayangade
songbook | new york, ny
Featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and Grammy-nominated pianist Chris Patishall, Songbook celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sotashe’s home country, South Africa. The program includes traditional folk songs in Zulu, Sepedi, and Xhosa, a string quartet by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, choral works by Michael Moreane and Bheki Mseleku, and originals by Vuyo Sotashe, all presented in fresh arrangements for voice, piano, and strings by Chris Patishall. Songbook explores connections between American jazz, South African traditional music, and European classical music, moving fluidly between traditions in a spirit of exploration and joy.
photo by titilayo ayangade
songbook | portland, me
Featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and Grammy-nominated pianist Chris Patishall, Songbook celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sotashe’s home country, South Africa. The program includes traditional folk songs in Zulu, Sepedi, and Xhosa, a string quartet by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, choral works by Michael Moreane and Bheki Mseleku, and originals by Vuyo Sotashe, all presented in fresh arrangements for voice, piano, and strings by Chris Patishall. Songbook explores connections between American jazz, South African traditional music, and European classical music, moving fluidly between traditions in a spirit of exploration and joy.
photo by titilayo ayangade
songbook | waterville, me
Featuring acclaimed jazz vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and Grammy-nominated pianist Chris Patishall, Songbook celebrates the rich musical heritage of Sotashe’s home country, South Africa. The program includes traditional folk songs in Zulu, Sepedi, and Xhosa, a string quartet by Bongani Ndodana-Breen, choral works by Michael Moreane and Bheki Mseleku, and originals by Vuyo Sotashe, all presented in fresh arrangements for voice, piano, and strings by Chris Patishall. Songbook explores connections between American jazz, South African traditional music, and European classical music, moving fluidly between traditions in a spirit of exploration and joy.
photo by titilayo ayangade
lullaby project celebration concert | portland, me
Lullaby Project is a songwriting partnership between pregnant people, new parents, and professional musicians. Working with professional songwriters and engineers, participants write and record original lullabies for their children.
photo by yoon s. byun
beehive chamber series | rise and shine | portland, me
Rise and Shine celebrates the versatility and power of the viola, the unsung heartbeat and sonic glue of much of the chamber music we love. This unusual program explores the sonic possibilities of the elusive middle voice, through twentieth-century viola quartets by Kenji Bunch and York Bowen, as well as new folk arrangements by Palaver violists Elizabeth Moore and Lysander Jaffe. We will be joined by special guest violist Sam Kelder.
photo by titilayo ayangade
beehive chamber series | rise and shine | boston, ma
Rise and Shine celebrates the versatility and power of the viola, the unsung heartbeat and sonic glue of much of the chamber music we love. This unusual program explores the sonic possibilities of the elusive middle voice, through twentieth-century viola quartets by Kenji Bunch and York Bowen, as well as new folk arrangements by Palaver violists Elizabeth Moore and Lysander Jaffe. We will be joined by special guest violist Sam Kelder.
photo by titilayo ayangade
beehive chamber series | rise and shine | brattleboro, vt
Rise and Shine celebrates the versatility and power of the viola, the unsung heartbeat and sonic glue of much of the chamber music we love. This unusual program explores the sonic possibilities of the elusive middle voice, through twentieth-century viola quartets by Kenji Bunch and York Bowen, as well as new folk arrangements by Palaver violists Elizabeth Moore and Lysander Jaffe. We will be joined by special guest violist Sam Kelder.
photo by titilayo ayangade
SOLD OUT - palaver gathering x scales
join the palaver strings ensemble, friends, and community for drinks, oysters, and a seaside concert at scales followed by a three-course winter meal to support our portland music school and national
performance touring.
there will be no snow date for this event and Scales and Palaver intend to be open for those who can make it!
photo by titilayo ayangade
the palaver gathering is generously sponsored by bangor savings bank, northland enterprises + the CREWE foundation
a warm thank you to our host committee
Amy Yasko + Lionel Derriey / Andrew Marsters / Ann Casady + Peter Pitegoff / Ari + Natalie Solotoff / Arthur + Elaine Robins / Barbara Lamont / Carol + Joe Wishcamper / Carolyn Benthien / Christina Wright + Luther Black / Dana Street / David Lakari / Fritz + Susan Onion / Gates + Caroline Sanford / Jennifer Queally + Richard Entel / Jonny Asen + Annie Reiner / Josué González + Tami Papagiannopoulos / Judy Wei / Kate + Jess Knox / Kathleen Sullivan + Robert Stevens / Ken Spirer + Joan Leitzer / Kerem Durdag / Elizabeth Hays / Margot + Roger Miliken / Max + Christina Monks / Stephanie Cotsirilos / William Black + Jackie Potter
brunch showcase
We are delighted to invite you to the inaugural Classical Brunch Showcase on Sunday, January 12, 2025 in Midtown, NYC. Kick off your APAP week with an exclusive performance showcase:
schedule:
9:00am - Sybarite5 & Curtis Stewart
9:24am - Frisson
9:48am - The Westerlies
10:12am - Arcis Saxophone Quartet
10:36am - Palaver Strings
email eric@arielartists.com to rsvp
sing for your slumber night 2
Join Palaver for Sing for Your Slumber at TOURISTS. This unique program invites touring musicians to enjoy a restful stay in exchange for an intimate, stripped-down performance. It’s a special opportunity to experience live music in a cozy and welcoming setting. Night 2 will feature the full ensemble and special guests - jazz pianist Chris Pattishall and South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe.
this event is free and open to the public!
photo by titilayo ayangade