Contact:
Mona M. Rock
mrock@strathmore.org
(301) 581-5193
NORTH BETHESDA, MD) – Six DC-area musicians will begin a prestigious, year-long program of mentorship, professional development, performance, education, and collaborative opportunities in Strathmore’s Artist in Residence (AIR) program. The cohort will study industry marketing, business strategies and career management.
The 2023 class is Dominique Bianco, Kevin Elam, Connor Holdridge, Joshua Jenkins, Jo Palmer, and Erin Murphy Snedecor. They will work closely with mentors Michael Bowie, Victor Provost, Lynn Veronneau, and Program Advisor Cathy Fink.
"As we introduce our 18th class, anticipation runs high for the concerts and newly commissioned works that will be created,” said Betty Scott, director, Artists in Residence Program. “We are especially excited to present the compelling collaborations between classical, Celtic, and jazz!"
The class will collaborate in an eclectic performance FRESH AIR SOIRÉE, Wednesday, November 16 at 8pm at AMP by Strathmore. Each musician will also headline two concerts at AMP by Strathmore, throughout the winter and spring, and offer educational workshops at the historic Mansion at Strathmore. Individual concerts go on sale mid-November.
Program sponsored by Cathy Bernard/Bernard Family Foundation. In-kind support provided by Seasons 52.
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JAZZ VOCALIST
DOMINIQUE BIANCO
Downbeat Magazine Student Music Award winner Dominique Bianco is a multi-faceted, 21-year-old vocalist specializing in jazz and contemporary genres. Originally from Staten Island, New York, Dominique was a finalist in the 2022 International Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition and has shared the stage with Benny Benack III, Elijah Jamal Balbed, and Emmet Cohen Trio including Kyle Poole and Russell Hall. As a featured soloist, she has performed in Jazz4Justice concerts 2018- 2021.
Watch Dominique’s performance video here.
Workshop:
Vocal Jazz Variations: for jazz lovers, musicians & vocalists
with Dominique Bianco
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 – 7:30pm
Performances:
March 8, 2023 and March 22, 2023 – 8pm
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IRISH TRADITIONAL VOCALIST & MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST
KEVIN ELAM
Kevin Elam is a singer and multi-instrumentalist, playing tin whistle, guitar, mandolin, and banjo. Although he boasts a strong background in classical piano and a degree in Jazz Studies from George Mason University, Kevin is rooted in traditional Irish and Scottish music. In 2019, he was awarded first place in Men's English Singing at the 2019 Fleadh Cheoil music festival and took home the coveted Dalaigh Shield, an award only won by one other American in its 65-year history.
Supported in part by Hope Eastman and Allen Childs, Dale Rosenthal and Michael Cutler, & Linda and Van Hubbard
Watch Kevin’s performance video here.
Workshop:
RESURRECTING LOST BALLADS
WITH KEVIN ELAM
Wednesday, February 15, 2023 – 7:30pm
Performances:
February 8, 2023 and February 22, 2023 – 8pm
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GUITARIST & COMPOSER
CONNOR HOLDRIDGE
A DMV native, Connor Holdridge’s musical influences range from the jazz-soloing styles of Django Reinhardt and Dexter Gordon to the overdriven blues-rock guitar of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Page. Alongside saxophonist Gabriel Wallace, Connor co-leads The Hot Mess, a quartet whose repertoire is inspired by Reinhardt’s early 1940s ensembles. Connor has also been featured with local jazz artists such as Michael Joseph Harris and Nataly Merezhuk.
Watch Connor’s performance video here.
Workshop:
Djangology: Ideas from the Music of Django Reinhardt
with Connor Holdridge
Wednesday, April 19, 2023 – 7:30pm
Performances:
April 12, 2023 and April 26, 2023 – 8pm
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JAZZ PIANIST
JOSHUA JENKINS
Joshua Jenkins has been playing the piano since he was seven and began performing in public at twelve. A proud alum of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, he holds a bachelor of music from Temple University, where he also majored in Spanish.
He has performed at The Kennedy Center and Strathmore’s Music Center with artists such as Ledisi, Patti LaBelle, and Sting. While studying in Philadelphia, he gave various classical, solo, and chamber recitals, and worked with several jazz ensembles. Joshua studied pipe organ for several years with Clyde T. Parker, having performed numerous times on this instrument at People’s Congregational Church in Washington, DC.
Watch Joshua’s performance video here.
Workshop:
CLAVE: THE ENGINE OF THE DIASPORA
WITH JOSHUA JENKINS
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 – 7:30pm
Performances:
June 14, 2023 and June 28, 2023 – 8pm
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MULTI-GENRE DRUMMER
JO PALMER
Jo Palmer grew up amidst the vibrant jazz scene in Hartford, Connecticut. Coming from a musical family, Jo was introduced to music at an early age. He attended Berklee College of Music and later The New School’s College of Performing Arts, to pursue the art of contemporary drumming with an emphasis on rhythms coming from the African Diaspora (jazz, Afro-Cuban, reggae, blues). Jo has performed with artists such as Les Amazones D'afrique and Amiri Baraka.
Workshop:
STORYTELLING THROUGH MUSIC
With Jo Palmer
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – 7:30pm
Performances:
May 10, 2023 and May 24, 2023 – 8pm
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CELLIST & COMPOSER
ERIN MURPHY SNEDECOR
Erin Murphy Snedecor is a multi-genre cellist who specializes in contemporary, chamber music, composition, and collaborative performance. While her training is primarily classical, she has used the influence of rock, folk, and electronica to improvise and compose in new styles, leading to many unconventional collaborations and performances. Most recently, Erin released an album of original music under her solo moniker, Zooxanthellae, available on Off Latch Press.
Supported in part by Richard and Melba Reichard & Ava Kaufman.
Watch Erin’s performance video here.
Workshop:
DON'T FEAR THE DAWN: ONLINE MUSIC PRODUCTION 101
WITH ERIN MURPHY SNEDECOR
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 – 7:30pm
Performances:
January 11, 2023 and January 25, 2023 – 8pm
Strathmore graciously thanks our Artist in Residence Champions for their multi-year commitment and above-and-beyond support to the AIR program.
ABOUT THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE (AIR) PROGRAM
Founded in 2005, the Strathmore Artist in Residence program has mentored 100 young artists, ages 16–32. Each year, six artists are chosen through a competitive selection process. Over the course of 10 months, they benefit from the support of mentor-musicians, 30 hours of professional development seminars, and performance opportunities including residency concerts at AMP by Strathmore. The AIR program is part of Strathmore’s Institute for Artistic and Professional Development.
ABOUT STRATHMORE
Strathmore is a multidimensional, creative anchor in the community, where everyone can connect with the arts, and artists can explore their full potential.
It presents hundreds of performances, visual arts, and education programs, annually, for diverse audiences on its Montgomery County Maryland campus and in the community.
All of Strathmore’s facilities are Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accredited.
For further information or tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
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