October Sky Ensemble

Doors open at 7:00 PM | Concert begins at 7:30 PM

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Experience an unforgettable evening of fresh, genre-blending sound with the October Sky Ensemble, a dynamic mixed-instrument quartet based in Blacksburg, Virginia. Known for commissioning, recording, and performing bold new music, this innovative group brings together the talents of Brian Thorsett (tenor), John Irrera (violin), Alan Weinstein (cello), and Annie Stevens (percussion).

The ensemble has shared its vibrant artistry across the United States and Europe, with recent appearances at the English Music Festival at Conway Hall in London, the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, and the College Music Society National Conference in Miami. Their performances showcase a rich blend of works for the full quartet as well as intimate duos and trios, offering audiences a wide spectrum of voices and colors.

Join us for a captivating concert that celebrates contemporary creativity, virtuosic collaboration, and the thrill of discovering new music.

The group released their debut CD on the MSR Classics label in 2023 to critical acclaim, summed up by Fanfare:

“October Sky Ensemble’s configuration—violin, cello, percussion, tenor—works so well that you have to ask: Why hasn’t this combination of instruments appeared more frequently? I have in my hand a CD of the group’s latest release, October Skies, a select buffet of new songs, often with ancient texts, performed with technical mastery and near-improvisational freedom. This album is an unexpected delight... All these settings, composed by modern composers, shower us with fresh ideas that prove the foe of monotony and the summit of musical imagination... What’s not to like about October Skies? There’s not a cloud in sight!" - Linda Holt, Fanfare [July/August 2024]

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Host or Publisher Sigal Music Museum