eighth blackbird

8th Blackbird, winner of the prestigious Concert Artists Guild, is making its New York City debut at Merkin Hall on November 18, 1998.

Taking its name from the Wallace Stevens poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird," eighth blackbird is one of the most exciting young ensembles performing today. Their stunning intensity effortless virtuosity, and seamless ensemble playing have won over audiences across the country. The group was the first contemporary ensemble ever to win the Concert Artists Guild Competition,  where they won First Prize, the Channel Classics Recording Prize, and the Rockport Chamber Music
Festival Prize in 1998. They also have won top prizes at the Fischoff and Coleman Chamber Music Competitions. 

eighth blackbird has performed in festivals and on chamber music series  throughout the United States, including the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, the Hot Springs Music Festival, the Hampden-Sydney Music Festival, the Grand Valley State University Celebration of the Arts, and the Shenandoah Performing Arts Camp. Spring and summer 1998 were marked by the ensemble's appearances with the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy, and on their self presented noble accents visiting composers series in Cincinnati. In the 1998-99 season, eighth blackbird will make their New York City debut and will be featured on television's CBS Sunday Morning. 

The group has worked with composers Joan Tower, Fred Lerdahl, Donald Martino, Andrew Imbrie, Wendell Logan, and Michael Torke. The ensemble has had works written for them by Burton Hatheway, Pieter Snapper, Thomas Albert, Gordon Fitzell, Tamar Muskal, and David Schober. 

The members of eighth blackbird formed the ensemble at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. They now participate in the exclusive Artist Diploma in Chamber Music program of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. 

Reviews  

"In Webern's arrangement of Schoenberg's Opus 9 Chamber Symphony, these players showed an unremitting intensity in the intricately kineticlandscape and a professionally assured technique in the most demanding situations." 
Coleman Winners Show Depth, Confidence - Los Angeles Times, April 29, 1997  

 "The most delightful surprise was the lickety-split virtuosity and musicianship of eighth blackbird, a sextet from Oberlin participating in the festival's Shouse Institute. There was nothing superficial about Logan's "Moments," in which the intricate syncopations, integrated mix of solo and ensemble, sophisticated use of call-and-response ideas and prismatic palette of percussion - marimba, glockenspiel, vibes, snare drum, tom-tom - all suggested a composer on intimate terms with jazz. The performers' cohesiveness and dynamics were mesmerizing." 
Chamber festival closes on an up note - Detroit Free Press, June 23, 1997 

"When eighth blackbird tuned up to play "Moments," a jazz-inspired piece by Oberlin composer Wendell Logan, in a preview minirecital, the musicians faced listeners attracted by the very different sounds of Brahms and Ravel. The sextet quickly won over the crowd. Partly it was because Logan's extroverted score strikes familiar chords and offers vivid instrumental showcases; but maybe more because eighth blackbird's players knew the score well enough to make a real performance out of it. They did for Logan what the Shanghai Quartet was about to do for the old masters." 
Young musicians juggle new numbers - Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 29, 1997 

"eighth blackbird traversed the middle of the road with Schoenberg's 1906 Chamber Symphony No.1 arranged by Webern for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (the original uses 15 solo instruments)....The young players handled their task with precision, concentration and energy to burn." 
Tocco and Cuests' give lively lesson - Cindnnati Post, October 23, 1997

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