Irving Artists

Description

We are excellent at creating well-balanced, approachable concert programs for community people who love classical music or have casual interests. Our audience listened to us in library auditoriums, University of Chicago, local churches, synagogues, and at an art gallery. We have performed from music of J.S. Bach to contemporary music always keeping it in mind that the program is interesting even for people who are not so used to classical music concerts.

Sample Program (library)

FOLK INSPIRATION

Béla Kovács: Hommage a Manuel de Falla

Heather Thon Dahl, clarinet

Edward Grieg: Horberg Suites
I. Prelude
       III.   Gavotte 
IV   Air
V.    Rigaudon

Hiroko Nagahata, piano

Japanese Songs arranged by Tatsuko Ito
Yoshinao Nakata: Yuki no furu machi de (In a Snowy Town)
Sadaichi Okano: Momiji (Maple Leaves)
Etennraku (Traditional)

Heather Thon Dahl, clarinet   Hiroko Nagahata, piano

Jerry Rock: Fiddler on the Roof 
adaptation, arrangement, and cadenzas by John Williams

Christie-Keiko Abe, violin   Hiroko Nagahata, piano

Antonín Leopold Dvořák: Slavonic Dance in E minor Op. 46 No. 2

Alexa Muhly, cello    Hiroko Nagahata, piano

Simple Gift for piano, cello and clarinet
Arranged by Keith Muhly
Alexa Muhly, cello   Heather Thon Dahl, clarinet    Hiroko Nagahata, piano

Work Sample

This concert was for Global Voice program at International House, University of Chicago in February 2021. Because of pandemic, we live streamed from PianoForrte Studio Chicago. 

Simle Gifts arrangement by Chicago-based composer, Dr. Keith Murphy. This is a studio recording for our first album Irving released in 2019. 

From album release concert at PianoForte Chicago in 2019. 

The works submitted are classical music and the essence of our skills and training. However we have also played popular music arrangements for specified audiences. For example, 50's and 60's tunes for elderly people. 

History

Cellist Alexa Muhly and pianist Hiroko Nagahata started collaborating in 2014. We named our group Irving Artists occasionally also inviting other instrumentalists depends on the program. We have performed in churches, public libraries, University of Chicago, and in a gallery in Toronto, Canada. We release our first album Irving in 2019, which received reviews from New York Concert Review and Fanfare Magazine. 

Artistic Vision

We aim to bring high quality classical music in approachable programming to people in community. 

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

We engage with audience by talking about music we play. We could introduce interesting episodes regarding composers or pieces to inspire interests. We also were guest coach for Chicago Trio Chamber Music Ensemble and have experience working with kids to youth ensembles.