NewBorn Trio (Katie Down, Jeffrey Lependorf, and Miguel Frasconi) formed specifically to perform in Kosovo on the national day of independence, NewBorn Day. This unique ensemble combines handmade and found glass instruments, traditional Asian flutes, plucked strings, and odd sound-making objects to evoke unimaginable musical textures.
Michael Sperone’s Harmonic Symbols is a series of pieces written for large cymbal and computer. The computer “listens” to the cymbal and replays the notes it hears, recreating a version of the cymbal filtered through the computer’s “senses.”
Katie Down is a sound artist, composer, performer and sound designer for theatre, film, and dance. She performs on a wide range of instruments and leads the infamous ukulele group The Ukuladies. She has taught and performed extensively throughout Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and South Africa.
Jeffrey Lependorf is composer of operas and chamber music, as well as a certified master of the shakuhachi, the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. His music has literally been heard around the globe: a recording of his music was launched into space aboard the space-shuttle Atlantis and remained aboard the space station Mir.
Miguel Frasconi is a composer and improvisor who uses electronics and a menagerie of glass objects to create his sound world. He has worked closely with many esteemed composers and choreographers. He presently teaches electronic music at Bard College and is director of the new music ensemble Ne(x)tworks.
Michael Sperone’s musical endeavors are ambitious and wide ranging. He recently expanded his repertoire for solo glockenspiel with the aid of a residency at Better Farm’s “BetterArt” program. He is currently performing with his band Tintinnabulation, which involves glockenspiel, homemade computer software, and as many other instrumentalists as are available to play at the time. Other recent endeavors include a full length solo “pop” album, and new works for iKtus Percussion, and Peter Jarvis.
Michael is a founding member of On The Cusp New Music Ensemble, New Music Unit, and Composers Anonymous as both composer and performer. He has had his works premiered by the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, Joe Bergen, New Music Unit, and Justin Wolf. He has performed with groups such as the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, Mad Coyote, Newband, and iKtus percussion.