They look like a cross between jazz players and Brooklynites out on the town, but the trio Bearthoven also has serious conservatory training and a strong rudder in the tides of New Music.
The NYC-based ensemble is coming home to Columbus for a concert Wednesday at Short North Stage, free to all courtesy of the Johnstone Fund for New Music. So, I thought I'd get to know the guys behind the bear masks before they take the stage.
Here, before we get ahead of ourselves, take a listen to how these guys can play:
Who is Bearthoven?
Karl Larson (piano), Pat Swoboda (bass), Matt Evans (anything and everything percussion) make up the trio, but their focus on performing new music and commissioned compositions sort of expands their stage to include a plethora of composers as well. In fact, the small ensemble performed over ten newly commissioned works in their first two seasons back in 2013.
This is not the only gig for the members of Bearthoven, either. This trio is more like a biosphere of collaborative and contemporary music summed in three MidWestern guys.
You might recognize from other Johnstone Fund concerts at Short North Stage such as last year's concert of Messiaen's "Harawi" song cycle with soprano Liz Pearse. Likewise, Matt is a member of the incredible percussion trio , and has a steady stream of solo gigs in .
This week's performance features:
: Grizzly
: Sun Stands Still, (world premiere)
The Ringing World, (world premiere)
: Silver Eye (world premiere)
: Modul 26
The Columbus // NYC New Music Exchange
Along with the Johnstone Fund for New Music and New Music at Short North Stage, this concert is the work of , aka CNX. This group, directed by Anthony Vine, works to unite artists and supporters between both New York City and Columbus; a lucrative pipeline of sustainable creativity. Be sure to keep this organization on your radar since they have a good sense of the direction of sustainability in the arts.
