AKROPOLIS reed quintet

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H ailed for their “imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality” (Fanfare Magazine), the Akropolis Reed Quintet

performs an innovative, living repertoire with acclaimed precision. The first reed quintet to win the Fischoff Gold Medal

in 2014, Akropolis is also winner of five additional national chamber music prizes, and their dynamic concerts feature

modern compositions framed by invigorating arrangements of classical music spanning four centuries. Deeply invested in the

tenacity of the reed quintet in chamber music, Akropolis organized the first Reed Quintet Consortium of thirteen reed quintets

from around the globe, commissioned more than twenty-five reed quintet works to date, and released two CDs of original reed

quintet music, High Speed Reed (2013) and Unraveled (2014), to national praise. Winner of the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award, the

ensemble matches its artistry with a wholehearted commitment to educational outreach. Created in 2009 at the University of Michi-

gan in Ann Arbor, Akropolis is Tim Gocklin (oboe), Kari Dion (clarinet), Matt Landry (saxophone), Andrew Koeppe (bass clarinet),

and Ryan Reynolds (bassoon).

short bio

press“The group, who played from memory while subtly changing relative positions in response to the interplay of the parts, elevat-ed precision to passion with their brilliantly tight performance.”

–Jeff Winslow, Oregon ArtsWatch, July 2015

“All of the music...is remarkable for the sheer joy that it elicits from the exceptional ARQ musicians... Blend, balance, unanimity of pitch and phrasing: all are perfect. The quintet plays with imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality.”

–Ronald E. Grames, Fanfare Magazine, May 2014

“The [Unraveled] album is filled from stem to stern with tight writing by young composers, and the spectacular playing engages both intellect and emotion throughout.”

–Andrew Sigler, New Music Box, June 2014

“Their ensemble was tight and their sound alluring...” –James McQuillen, The Oregonian, July 2015

“We were thrilled with the Akropolis Reed Quintet’s visit to the Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck. They presented a wonderfully varied program of music with everything from a Handel transcription to Ton ter Doest’s Circusmuziek. Our well-established audience...loved hearing Akropolis’ more varied program. In fact, they were on their feet with excitement more than once during Akropolis’ concerts in Saugatuck. The group’s energy is infectious and their communication — both with each other in performance and with the audience — is refreshing.”

–Jenny Walvoord, Artistic Director, Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck

PHOTO BY GARY NORMAN

AKROPOLIS reed quintet

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THE SPACE BETWEEN US

Continuously seeking to enrich the ever-expanding reed quintet reper-

toire, the Akropolis Reed Quintet is proud to present a new collection

of original reed quintet repertoire from their upcoming third studio

album, The Space Between Us. Akropolis commissioned and pro-

grammed these works in order to create a unique concert experience

for their audiences which explores musical, personal, and social ideas

of space. Naturally, each composer’s reflection takes a different form,

from celebration to grief, religion to mathematics. The mechanism

for expression ranges from the quiet contemplation of composer

Joel Puckett, to Dutch composer Jacob TV’s “ghettoblaster” work.

John Steinmetz requires that the audience participate in the music-

making, while John Leszczynski provides modern innovations on a

traditional musical idea. Ultimately, “The Space Between Us” concert

program invites Akropolis’ audience to explore the ensemble’s unique

and colorful reed quintet space.

Works to be performed on “The Space

Between Us” program include:

Rob Deemer, Gallimaufry (2015)

John Leszczynski, Variations in the Reeds (2013)

David Biedenbender, Chora (2015)

John Steinmetz, Sorrow and Celebration for reed

quintet and audience (2015)

Joel Puckett, Owl Moon (2015)

Jacob TV, Jesus is Coming for reed quintet and

ghettoblaster (2003)

UNDER THE INFLUENCE The Akropolis Reed Quintet presents a program of

traditional and contemporary classical music sepa-

rated by a century, connected by common musical

influences. Gershwin and Debussy, turn of the century

composers influenced by America’s jazz and France’s

impressionism, are joined by a present-day Dutch

composer whose circus-inspired music has become

a staple of the burgeoning reed quintet repertoire.

Then, Charles Ives’s tongue-in-cheek collage of late 19th century

popular music is complemented by two contemporary American

composers who reach into the same well of popular music, inspired

by modern influences from the world around us.

Works to be performed on the “Under the Influence”

program include:

Gershwin, 3 Preludes (1926)

Debussy, Children’s Corner Suite arr. Hekkema (1908)

Ton ter Doest, Circusmuziek (1991)

Charles Ives, Variations on America arr. Reynolds (1892)

Asaf Peres, Fun Fun Fun Fun (2011)

Robbie McCarthy, Four-Letter-Word (2012)

program offerings

PHOTO BY GARY NORMAN

AKROPOLIS reed quintet

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program offerings (cont.)

PULSE

Akropolis explores rhythm and minimalism through its unique and

colorful repertoire of eclectic contemporary works. Inspired by jazz,

techno, heavy metal, and “avant-pop,” the music reflects a present-

day emphasis on pulse as binding agent for various forms of music

found here and abroad.

Works to be performed on the “Pulse” program include:

Gershwin, 3 Preludes (1926)

Asaf Peres, Fun Fun Fun Fun (2011)

Jason Turbin, Morse Code (2013)

Garrett Schumann, High Speed Reed (2012)

Vladimir Tošić, Medial S (2014)

John Leszczynski, Variations in the Reeds (2013)

Jacob TV, Jesus is Coming for reed quintet and ghettoblaster (2003)

UNRAVELED

The Akropolis Reed Quintet is unmatched in its dedication to

providing today’s composers a platform for creating dynamic

chamber music. Presenting a cohesive collection of reed quintet

commissions, Akropolis invited several talented composers to

uniquely interpret the word “Unraveled” through music composi-

tion. The prompt was put to action emotionally, musically, and

even metaphysically, resulting in a collage of spiraling lines,

twisting rhythms, chaos, peace, and everything in between.

Unraveled became Akropolis’ second studio album of the same

name, garnering significant praise from publications including

New Music Box and Fanfare Magazine, which commended

Akropolis for playing “with imagination, infallible musicality, and

huge vitality.” This concert program draws from the Unraveled

disc, but also looks forward to related compositions from more

recent projects as well.

Works to be performed on the “Unraveled”

program include:

Paul Dooley, Warp & Weft (2013)

Robbie McCarthy, Four-Letter-Word (2012)

Jason Turbin, Morse Code (2013)

Roger Zare, Variations on Reverse Entropy

(2013)

Ton ter Doest, Circusmuziek (1991)

John Leszczynski, Variations in the Reeds (2013)

Rob Deemer, Gallimaufry (2015)

PHOTO BY GARY NORMAN

AKROPOLIS reed quintet

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FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDRENMelody game: Each section of the audience is assigned an Akropolis

member and must stand when their member has the melody. We use

Gershwin for this game!

Paint with sound: Using the short vignettes of Circusmuziek, Akropolis

guides the audience to choose colors, images, moods, seasons, and

animals that fit the sound of each musical snippet, and a volunteer draws

the picture we describe!

“The Best Story”: Inspired by our 2015 Fischoff Educator Award Tour

and the Fischoff “S.A.M. I Am” (Stories and Music) program, Akropolis

gives a musical and theatrical rendition of the children’s book, “The Best

Story” by Eileen Spinelli.

Instrument introduction: Each Akropolis member gives a brief demon-

stration on his/her instrument (including the giant clarinet!) about what

makes it unique, challenging, and rewarding!

How does it work? Akropolis uses volunteers and balloons to demon-

strate how wind passes through a reed instrument to make a sound.

Q&A: The Q&A is best done if the questions are written down before

Akropolis arrives. This way we can create concise, informative answers to

questions ranging from how much we practice to our favorite bands.

FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSAkropolis has utilized a variety of activities grades 6-12 to engage stu-

dents in chamber music and leave a lasting impression.

Chamber music coaching: Privately, or in a group master class set-

ting. Beginning instrumentalists to refined high school stars.

Full ensemble workshop: Akropolis performs briefly for the entire

band/orchestra, then applies chamber music essentials (eye con-

tact, breathing, internal pulse, listening) to the ensemble’s litera-

ture (prepared or sight-read). First we brainstorm and make a list of

the new elements students see in the brief Akropolis performance,

then we go to work applying those concepts to the ensemble.

Full assembly presentation: For groups larger than one class or

when an auditorium setting is preferred, Akropolis delivers an

hour-long performance/presentation/Q&A consisting of interac-

tive games and our most fun, accessible, and dynamic music.

Private tutoring: This is particularly great for double reed and

bass clarinet players!

Ensemble sit-in: Let Akropolis be part your ensemble! At teach-

able moments, the five Akropolis members can demonstrate

professional-level intonation, blend, balance, and technique as

a mini-band or orchestra, and with sound advice and wisdom

provide spontaneity and energy to any ensemble’s rehearsal.

FOR COLLEGE STUDENTSFor composers: Akropolis will workshop your reed quintet work or

sketches. In a studio setting Akropolis will provide expertise on the

collaborative process. What are ensembles looking for? What really

works for players? What is the current climate looking for in new

compositions?

Creative entrepreneurship: Music business workshop featuring pro-

fessional advice including marketing, website construction, fundraising

campaigns, booking engagements, finding a manager, creating an

image, engaging the social media community, and more! This is not

just a lecture. Students bring their ideas and experiences to a conver-

sational setting.

Chamber music coaching: We help the ensemble locate its group

chemistry and provide strategies for rehearsing effectively, managing

time, playing as a cohesive unit, and interpreting music as a singular

entity.

For individuals: Each Akropolis member offers fresh and engaging tu-

toring to individual musicians on how to make their current repertoire

more effective and approach their instrument in new ways.

Performance and panel: Half performance/half panel and Q&A. This

is a good mix of performance and workshop in an intimate setting.

Akropolis delivers an energetic performance, then answers questions

from music students and puts forth the concepts which foster success

in chamber music performance and business.

additional offerings

AKROPOLIS IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2015 FISCHOFF EDUCATOR AWARD. THIS

NATIONAL AWARD RECOGNIZES THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH WORK OF FISCHOFF

COMPETITION ALUMNI WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING AND IMAGINATIVE

PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE UNITED STATES.