SYBARITE5. “Their rock-star status … is well deserved. Their classically honed technique mixed with grit and all out passionate attack transfixes the audience…” That is how the Sarasota Herald Tribune described Sybarite5, the first string quintet ever selected as a winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition. Comprised of Sami Merdinian and Sarah Whitney, violins; Angela Pickett, viola; Laura Metcalf, cello; and Louis Levitt, bass, Sybarite5 has taken audiences worldwide by storm, forever changing the perception of chamber music performance. From the moment their bows hit the strings, this quintet of talented, diverse musicians takes the audience on an exciting ride that engages the senses and redefines the rules. From Mozart to Radiohead and Visconti to Akiho, Sybarite5’s eclectic repertoire and commanding performance style is turning heads throughout the music world: the quintet’s debut EP “Disturb the Silence,” featuring music by Radiohead and Piazzolla, plus original works written for Sybarite5, was released in 2011 and quickly reached the top ten on the Billboard charts. Their follow-up album “Everything In Its Right Place” was released at Carnegie Hall in 2012. Recently, Sybarite5 received an award from the American Composers Forum to commission three composers to write new works that will tour in 2016-2017. In addition, Sybarite5 was awarded the Sylvia Ann Hewlett Adventurous Artist Prize, and has received commissioning awards from BMI, Chamber Music America, Concert Artists Guild and the Look & Listen Festival. Composers recently commissioned to write new works for Sybarite5 include Andy Akiho, Kenji Bunch, Eric Byers, Shawn Conley, Mohammed Fairouz, Michael Gilbertson, Jessica Meyer, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Michi Wiancko, and Lev Zhurbin. The ensemble is based in New York City and maintains a residency at the cell theatre. Learn more at http://sybarite5.org.
[Image: Brian Braun]

JAKUB CIUPINSKI (‘yacoob chioopinsky’) is a Polis h composer living in New York City. Although his music is often associated with electronics and interactive performances, he has written numerous pieces for traditional acoustic forces, varying in scope from solo miniatures to an hour-long oratorio for symphony orchestra and double choir. At the age of 18, he signed a contract with SONY Music Poland and since has been recording electronica-infused world music under the stage name Jakub Żak. His concert music has been commissioned by various institutions and ensembles including Metropolis Ensemble, The New Juilliard Ensemble, The New York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute, as well as the world-famous violinists Anne Akiko-Meyers and Philippe Quint. His works have been performed around the world, including prestigious venues such as Tonhalle in Zurich and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York. Ciupinski is a co-founder of Blind Ear Music, New York based group of composers and instrumentalists performing improvised, real-time compositions, using wirelessly connected laptops as musical score displays. He has also designed his own instrument for performing electronic music using hand gestures. Learn more at http://jakubciupinski.com.
[Image: courtesy of the artist]