„Now more than ever is the time for new and collaborative visions in the arts. As artists it is often a natural part of our work to seek new ways to reach, move, inspire our audiences. The framework of swelll would provide us with invaluable foundation and artistic freedom to explore and create while moving forward in this constantly growing world.
I am particularly passionate about collaboration, between composer and performer, and also the transdisciplinary arts - music and visual art are two strong forces that have such great potential for exploration. Through the various partnerships via swelll, we can form new productions that not only open our artistic insights onto new horizons but also attract wider audiences.
I'm excited to be a part of this innovative force.“
US-born violinist Rachel Koblyakov is currently based in Paris, France.
She performs regularly as both soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe. Rachel gave her solo debut at the age of 12 with the Central Illinois Orchestra, and has since appeared as soloist and recitalist on various occasions, including solo with the Orchestre Philharmonique of Radio-France under the baton of Pierre-André Valade, and at Festival Printemps des Arts, Monaco. A regular performer on both classical and contemporary music scenes, she has had the fortune to worked closely with a number of composers, among them Wolfgang Rihm, Matthias Pintscher, Stefano Gervasoni, and Samuel Andreyev. Passionate about collaboration between the arts, she has curated and performed various programs, including for the New York-based Aeon Ensemble, as well as work with visual artists Alex Cecchetti and Rainer Ganahl.
She can be heard as first violin solo of the Kiev-based Ukho Ensemble on a series of discs released by Kairos, Winter im Winter, and EMA Vinci.
„Der Überregulierungswahnwitz, welchen man in der klassischen Musikwelt findet, unterbindet jegliche Leidenschaft für das, worum es doch eigentlich gehen sollte. Es ist klar, dass Künstler nicht ausgenützt werden sollen und wenn es dafür Regulierungen braucht, dann soll es diese geben. Was aber überleben muss, ist die Kunst.
Ich wäre sehr glücklich mit swelll zu arbeiten: mit ihnen muss ich nicht um die Selbstverständlichkeit der Leidenschaft kämpfen; Menschen, welche nicht zu eitel sind, um zu zeigen, was sie wollen und nicht nur, was sie können.“
Herbert Fritsch ist ein deutscher Regisseur, Medienkünstler und Schauspieler.
Mit seinen Inszenierungen wurde er sechs Mal zum Berliner Theatertreffen eingeladen. Zum Bühnenbildner des Jahres wurde er von der Zeitschrift «theater heute» 2012 für «Die (s)panische Fliege» und 2013 für «Murmel Murmel» gewählt. 2017 erhielt er den Theaterpreis Berlin.
Fritsch inszenierte unter anderem an der Komischen Oper in Berlin, den Residenztheater München, dem Burgtheater Wien, dem Thalia Theater und dem Schauspielhaus in Hamburg, der Berliner Volksbühne, der Schaubühne Berlin, wie auch dem Schauspiel- und Opernhaus Zürich.
„swelll is a new way of thinking, a new way of working. Through its commitment to excellence in musicianship, quality in performances, openness to collaboration and continued effort in education, swelll is prepared to take one step further where many musical institutions take a step back: to reinvent the new music experience, and inspire committed, informed audience for generations to come.“
„swelll 將會是打破傳統古典音樂思維的一股新氣象；
由Dominik 及Martin 的帶領下,swelll 會透過致力推廣新音樂教育和策劃高質素新音樂活動，為新一代觀眾帶來不一樣的古典音樂體驗!“
Hongkong born and based flautist, composer and conductor Angus Lee has performed at music festivals internationally, including Beijing Music Festival (CN), Ciclo de Música Contemporánea de Oviedo (ES), CYCLE Music and Art Festival (IS) & Tongyeong Music Festival (KR).
As a composer, Lee undertook studies at various composition academies, with composers Oscar Bianchi, Michael Finnissy, Philippe Manoury, Yann Robin & Johannes Maria Staud. His works have been performed by, among others, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Multilatérale, Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, and Trio Accanto.
Lee is also the administrative director of the Hong Kong-based NOVA Ensemble and PRISM Chamber Music Festival since 2019.
„In these uncertain times, we need voices who will uplift the music community with their actions. swelll, is a welcome addition to the international landscape of contemporary music, empowering freelance musicians by engaging their intellects as well as their skills. Dominik's past work with the Lucerne Festival showed his true dedication to this community, and I look forward to seeing what comes next!“
Hawaii-born composer, performer and curator Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti currently lives in Rensselaer, USA.
She has been featured as a composer-performer on Tulsa Living Arts OK Electric Festival, the Dots+Loops series and Sound School series in Australia, and a guest composer at Thailand International Composers Festival. Lanzilotti has performed with contemporary music ensembles such as A Far Cry, Alarm Will Sound, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Ensemble Échappé, and Ensemble Signal. She has played on albums from Björk's Vulnicura Live and Joan Osborne's Love and Hate, to Dai Fujikura's Chance Monsoon. Lanzilotti was an orchestral fellow in the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the New World Symphony. She has published articles in Music & Literature and Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. Currently she is curator of music at The Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) at Rensselaer, New York.
„The concept of swelll excites me greatly because it resonates with my artistic dreams and desires for the contemporary world! This is the kind of a system that this seemingly disconnected world needs now, more than ever. What I cherish the most as an artist is the global community of like-minded, inspirational artists that I’m proud to be a part of. And it keeps growing!
There’s no doubt that swelll will strengthen the bond of this community, and enable the wonders of contemporary music to be shared with a much broader, global audience.“
„swelllのコンセプトは、私が考える現代の音楽のありかたと共鳴します。どんどん閉塞的な社会になってきている今まさに、このようなたくさんのコミュニティを繋ぐシステムが必要とされています。私たち音楽家にとって、とても貴重なのは、音楽を通して繋がる仲間です。このコミュニティは、文化や言語の違いを通り越して世界中に広がっていきます。swelllは間違いなくこのような繋がりをもっと強め、現代音楽の素晴らしさを今まで以上たくさんの人々と共有する手助けになると思います。“
Japanese–born percussionist Sae Hashimoto is currently based in New York City, USA.
She was a recipient of the Kovner Fellowship at the Juilliard School.
Hashimoto has served as guest timpanist with the New York Philharmonic, as well as performing off-stage with the Metropolitan Opera. She currently serves as the principal timpanist of New Jersey-based orchestra Symphony in C.
Since 2017, she has closely worked with avant-grade composer John Zorn.
„swelll, with its nimble, tireless, and deeply-experienced team has the best shot at bringing new voices to an imperiled genre: classical music. They are scratching the surface of a solution that has been dormant for far too long in the music industry. swelll considers experiential facets of concert music as an equal consideration to obvious features such as virtuosity, expressive depth, and a fascination with lineage and tradition. swelll builds a business model which prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion alongside fair compensation for artists.“
US-born percussionist and temporal artist Ross Karre is currently based in New York City, USA.
He is co-artistic director of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). Karre has worked with major artists such as Pierre Boulez, Helmut Lachenmann, and Harrison Birtwistle, Pauline Oliveros, red fish blue fish or Third Coast Percussion. His projection design and video art has been presented in numerous prestigious venues around the world including the BBC Scotland (Glasgow Concert Halls), the Park Avenue Armory (NYC), Miller Theater (NYC), the National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC), and the BIMhuis (Holland). Karre is the founder and owner of a growing arts documentation business called rKAD specializing in video and audio recordings of performing arts.
„I’m excited to learn about the swelll network! Our global society is rapidly changing, and it’s a matter of survival that we as musicians adapt to the times we live in. swelll could offer us a support network of likeminded artists around the world, and we can help and inspire each other in navigating the uncharted territory of advancing technology, climate change, globalization, and the quest for creating meaningful musical and interdisciplinary projects which both honor the traditions we inherited while also pushing forward into the future of our collective art.“
Hawaii-born bassist Kathryn Schulmeister is currently living in San Diego, USA. She is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music Performance at the University of California, San Diego. Schulmeister was nominated for a 2020 GRAMMY® Music Award as a collaborating artist with Soprano Susan Narucki for her album of Kurtág's music, The Edge of Silence.
Currently she is a member of the Australian ELISION Ensemble.
„swelll is SO cool and 100% topical.
In an ever changing arts ecosystem, swelll will meet a strong demand from contemporary audiences who wish to discover new forms of inspiration. Art consumers want to feel challenged and active in their experiences, and swelll will deliver this in a way that will transcend, provoke thought, and inspire progressive growth.“
US–born trumpet player Jean Laurenz is currently based in Madison, USA.
She is Assistant-Professor of Trumpet at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Laurenz has worked with major artists such as Kanye West, and Adele. As an active chamber musician, she is a core member of Seraph Brass and has also performed with esteemed chamber groups in over 24 countries. Jean is a collaborative artist who enjoys building curated performance art pieces that blend theater, projection art, and live music.
„Being part of swelll gives me the insurance that investing my time in ambitious new music productions will be rewarded with musical excellence, thanks to a top-notch roster and seasoned production team who knows inside-out what artists need to deliver and be on top of their game.
Talents are blooming worldwide and there is no sense of ‘geographical epicenter’ anymore. Other industries have already realized for some time that it is crucial to put the resources to hire and gather world specialists, teams of consultants, from everywhere in order to remain competitive and to be innovative. swelll is the future, it breaks away from the “garage band” management thinking, made of whomever is around the block and hoping for the best. It strives for excellence and put the talent before everything else. swelll promises to go one step further with conciliating global access and local resources in harmony with the environment, and this truly resonates with my values, which are becoming the new norm.
I know this vision has been brewing for some time now and I can’t wait for the launch of swelll, it is one of the most exciting projects I am part of. Every project that I have been involved with Dominik and Lea has to date remained my most satisfying and nurturing artistic experiences. swelll’s team is ready to gear up and create the future. This is because of this determination, energy and vision that I am utterly convinced that swelll will be propelled front and center as the leading actor in what defines new music and performing art.“
French-born Harpist Mélanie Genin is currently based in New York City, USA.
She was selected as a recipient of the Bruni-Sarkozy Foundation scholarship.
Since her solo debut at Carnegie Hall with the International Shining Stars, Genin has performed all over the world, including Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Royal Albert Hall London, KKL Luzern, Avery Fisher Hall, Salle Pleyel, Théâtre du Châtelet, and Théâtre des Champs Elysées.
She has worked with artists such as Pierre Boulez, Matthias Pintscher, Alan Gilbert and Leonard Slatkin.
Away from the stage, Ms. Genin is committed to bringing comfort to those in need, a passion which is realized through her art therapy project “Harpe Porte à Porte”, where she plays her harp at the bedside of sick children, cancer sufferers and the terminally ill.
„swelll's program and inclusive sweep looks like the next chapter for our wide-ranging community.
Dominik has spearheaded many initiatives over the years to create an international body of like-minded artists of the highest calibre, resulting in a community of composers, singers, instrumentalists, producers, and other artists, a community in which I am proud to participate.“
Doug Balliett is a New York City-based US-composer, instrumentalist and poet.
He was composing for many festivals and venues worldwide. Balliett has performed as principal or solo double bassist with Ensemble Modern, the San Antonio Symphony, Alarm Will Sound, and many other ensembles. He has collaborated with musicians such as William Christie, Pink Martini, Pierre Boulez, Steve Coleman and many others.
Balliett is also principal bassist with the several Baroque Orchestras, where he performs regularly on the viola da gamba and violone.
Together with his twin brother Brad they host The Brothers Balliett on WQXR’s Q2, a weekly show exploring new music. The brothers also curate series in N.Y.C, featuring many major new-music luminaries.
„swelllは風通しが良くアーティスト同士のコミュニケーションを円滑にし多様なアイデアを出し合えるだけでなく、学術的なアプローチにもより人々に幅広く深く芸術を届けることのできるチャンスに恵まれています。音楽が他の芸術とコラボレーションしジャンルを超えて質の高いものを目指すことはswelllのネットワークににより実現するでしょう。こうした新たな可能性を世界規模で探求することは有意義であると考えます。swelllは聴衆やアーティストの人生を豊かにする場を提供するプラットホームとして多くの人に開かれています。これから訪れるであろう多様性の時代を生きていくために、ひとりひとりの価値観を育む芸術による教育の重要性とswelllの意義を感じます。“
„swelll's openness not only facilitates communication between artists but also offers a possibility to collaborate with other arts and aim for high quality music beyond genres.
I think it is meaningful to explore new possibilities in the world: swelll provides a place to enrich the lives of audiences and artists. I feel the importance of swelll and the importance of education by art that nurtures individual values to live the era of diversity that will come in the near future.“
Hidetaka Nakagawa is a Japanese-born and -based bassoon player. He received the kyoto City Special Bounty Program for Art and Culture.Nakagawa is currently a lecturer at the Tokyo College of Music.
He is a core member of Ensemble FOVE in Japan.
„In the 21st century, things change and transform quickly. People’s curiosity generally has expanded, which gives artists opportunities to introduce new music to the audience.
Not every classical musician has the same musical goal, I sometimes struggle to develop the initial idea that I have in mind. This is one of the obstacles that artists face from all around the world.
Regardless where the artists reside, they can gather for one-off time customized projects and go back to their own daily life.
In the present times, the classical contemporary musicians should consider what is currently happening and where this is going to lead us. As we continue to preserve tradition, we should also feel the responsibility of leading forward with new music.
I am very excited about this new organization, and this opportunity will definitely become a stepping stone to help artists by creating a worldwide network as well as the community to develop in many ways.“
Korean-born clarinetist Saerom Kim is currently based in Hartford, Connecticut.
She received the Grand Prize at the Korean Clarinet Association Competition in 2002.
Ms. Kim actively performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout North America, Asia, and Europe.
She is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance at the University of Hartford-Hartt School.
„The cultural and artistic values represented by swelll are among the most essential to a significant and innovative model of art-making. A 360° dialogue within and beyond the field of contemporary music is absolutely necessary to increase its relevance and the impact that today’s art can and should have. My previous collaborations with Dominik have convinced me to share and empower swelll’s vision. With his clear artistic vision and also his ability to receive and implement external inputs, he is indeed the perfect person for this.“
„I valori artistici e culturali incarnati da swelll sono tr i più essenziali per un modo di fare arte innovativo e significativo. Un dialogo a 360° gradi, sia all’interno che oltre i confini dell’ambito della musica contemporanea è assolutamente necessario per aumentare la sua rilevanza e l’impatto che l’arte di oggi può e deve avere. Le mie precedenti collaborazioni con Dominik mi permettono di condividere e supportare gli obbiettivi di swelll. La sua chiara direzione artistica e la sua sensibilità nel ricevere e includere suggerimenti e indicazioni lo rendono la persona ideale per questo obbiettivo.“
Italian-born violinist Marco Fusi is currently based in Brussels, Belgium.
He has premiered works by Billone, Sciarrino, Eötvös, Cendo and Ferneyhough and performed with Pierre Boulez, Lorin Maazel, Alan Gilbert, Beat Furrer, David Robertson, and frequently plays with leading contemporary ensembles including Klangforum Wien, MusikFabrik, Mivos Quartet, Ensemble Linea and ENsemble Interface.
He gives lectures and workshops at institutions such as ColumbiaUniversity, University of California –Berkeley, Basel Musikhochschule, Royal Danish Academy of Music, University of Chicago and at the Milano conservatory “G. Verdi”.
Fusi is a researcher in Performance at the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp.
„swelll fills a void in the industry for musicians who pursue parallel careers as orchestral principals, freelancers and chamber musicians to showcase their passion for contemporary music (perhaps fulfilling a similar role for the contemporary scene as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Mahler Chamber provide for the classical world).
I see swelll as an enormous opportunity for musicians like me to join like-minded artists for stimulating, exciting projects in a musical oasis outside of our daily lives. The diversity of swelll's roster (encompassing artists from multiple continents, cultures, and musical backgrounds) provides enormous possibilities for musical and personal exchange and collaboration leading to world-class performances.
Drawing on a worldwide pool of dedicated artists and musical entrepreneurs, swelll is poised to ruffle some feathers, in a good way!“
Born to islandic and canadian parents, cellist Erik Ásgeirsson is currently based in Siegen, Germany.
He is the solo cellist of Philharmonie Südwestfalen, Germany. Before this appointment Ásgeirsson was a member of the Staatskapelle Weimar Orchestra and he held academy fellowship positions in the Berlin Radio and Komische Oper Berlin Orchestras.
He worked with such artists as Pierre Boulez, David Robertson, Péter Eötvös, Susanna Mälkki, Matthias Pintscher and Riccardo Chailly and performed at venues and festivals such as the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Lucerne Festival, Italy’s Amici Della Musica, Gustav Mahler Festivals, Forum Neue Musik, Kölner Philharmonie.
Ásgeirsson also serves as Associate Artistic Director of Chamber Soloists of Detroit.
„With diverse and multifaceted aesthetics matched by an openness in conversation between the audience, performers and programmers, swelll is THE answer to the urgent need to innovative music making in today's cultural landscape.“
Chinese-Australian violinist, violist and gestural performance artist Winnie Huang is currently based between Belgium and France.
She is a founding member and solo violinist of Paris based new music ensemble soundinitiative, part of the collective lovemusic, and co-founder and member of performative duo LookOut.
Winnie continually works with emerging and established composers, such as Bernhard Lang, Philippe Manoury, Georges Aperghis, Mauro Lanza, Jessie Marino, Joanna Bailie and Peter Ablinger, and regularly performs with international ensembles in Europe and Australian.
She played at international festivals and venues such as the Elbphilharmonie, Ars Musica, Musikfest Berlin, Manifeste, Festival Royaumont, Lucerne Festival, IFNM Darmstadt, Ruhrtriennale, Brisbane Festival, among others.
Winnie’s strong interest in the performance of musical-gestural pieces is explored frequently through collaborating with composers.
„Many works of 20th/21st century music require special considerations which can make their
performance prohibitive. swelll aims to bring music of the 20th/21st century to a wider audience in new and exciting ways. By using a flexible global network of like-minded artists, swelll can adapt to venues,
locales, audiences and the individual goals and requirements of every work we perform, free of
institutional constraints.
I've had the privilege of working alongside Dominik, Lea and Martin on special projects for over
ten years, and I have the greatest respect for their knowledge, passion and collaborative spirit.
These qualities are what will make swelll a fresh concept in performing arts and an exciting
destination for artists and audiences around the world.“
New York City-born and based percussionist Jared Soldiviero with a diverse career of performing and recording with symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, composers and on Broadway. He was recently the percussionist for the North American tour of Les Misérables, playing 750 performances in over 80 cities.
Jared has appeared frequently with Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Springfield Symphony, Albany Symphony, NOVUS NY and Decoda. A devoted advocate for modern and contemporary music, Jared has taken part in many world premieres and performances around the world under conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Charles Wuorinen, Simon Rattle, Matthias Pintscher, Susanna Mälkki, Peter Eötvös and John Adams.
He was an inaugural member of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect fellowship and holds Bachelor/Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School.
„swelll uncompromisingly combines cultural significance and leadership with the most cutting edge virtuosos and performers in music and art today. From audiences to benefactors, art houses to schools, swelll offers the opportunity and innovation to be at the forefront of new art and music.“
American born trumpet player Sam Jones is currently based in New York City.
He the winner of the 2019 “World Trumpet Society” International Trumpet Competition.
Jones performed at the Lincoln Center Festival, the Helsinki Music Festival, Lucerne Festival, Darmstadt Courses for New Music, and the New York Philharmonic Biennial. He has performed with The Florida Orchestra, Talea Ensemble, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Ensemble musikFabrik, Wet Ink Ensemble, Axiom, and La Monte Young. Jones is a member of Ensemble Échappé.