STEVE REICH PROJECT

For our November 2006 concert we performed Steve Reich's masterpiece Music for 18 Musicians, in honor of the composer's seventieth birthday. Lots of research, preparation, and enthusiasm helped us pull it off. Alex Ross noticed, and other nice opportunities for the ensemble followed.

In preparation for our concert, some of our members took an October field trip to NYC to attend a Carnegie Hall Steve Reich birthday celebration. Lectures, workshops, rehearsals, and a Music for 18 Musicians performance by Steve Reich and Musicians. New Music Box published director Bill Ryan's account here. Other photos of the trip here.

In June 2007 we were invited to perform at the 20th Bang On a Can marathon, at New York's World Financial Center. Twenty of us made the trip, and performed Music for 18 Musicians as the sun rose behind us. The New York Times even mentioned us in their review. Photos of the trip here.

In October 2007 innova Recordings released our first CD, Music for 18 Musicians. We were recorded in Grand Rapids at St. Cecelia Music Center, by Grammy winning recording engineer Silas Brown. Photos of the rehearsals here, recording sessions here. We were fortunate to have a few people notice the recording, including NPR's Weekend Edition. The CD even ended up on some "Best of" end of the year lists by publications including the New York Times, LA Weekly, Time Out New York, and the Washington Post. Here's the trailer we made for the CD: