Residencies
Testimonials
During their residency at Western Michigan University, the PRISM Quartet provided a masterclass for saxophonists, readings/recording session of works by student composers, a feedback session regarding the student works involving insights about writing for saxophones, presentations about recording technology and the music business, a recital, and a performance with the symphonic band. All of the activities were absolutely exceptional. The feedback and information for students was clear, pertinent, and insightful. The performances were virtuosic, expressive, and inspiring. The PRISM Quartet was able to positively impact a huge portion of the students in the School of Music. They were always willing to give more time to students and they were very fun to host. It was a great residency
Testimonials
“I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to work with PRISM twice, first through the Walden School’s student co-commissioning project, and then ten years later, during PRISM’s residency at Brandeis University. Then and now, I so appreciate their professionalism and pure, precise ensemble sound. For residencies like this, it’s important for students to know that their work will be taken seriously, and that risks and challenges are welcome. I am very grateful to PRISM for showing me my ideas out loud, with such a beautiful technique and tone.”
Testimonials
“The PRISM Quartet visit to Princeton University was one of the most successful residencies we’ve had in the 30 years that I have been here. Rarely are all the student composers unanimously thrilled with the treatment and performances they get, but all six of our composers were over the moon. Of course they were: PRISM is made up of four great players, the group was impeccably prepared, they worked hard and thoughtfully with the student composers, played a wonderful concert and then, as a bonus, they ended up taking two of the student pieces into there regular series repertoire!”
Testimonials
“PRISM represents the ideal combination of high professionalism, absurd virtuosity, and personal warmth and energy. In their residency as part of the Princeton Sound Kitchen concert series, they displayed all of these attributes in spades. Their work with our graduate composers was superb, from the first workshop Matt did with them months ahead of time through the rehearsals and of course the performance, and they have since programmed some of these new works on their own concerts elsewhere; it is hard to imagine a better experience and opportunity for our composers!”
Testimonials
“The outstanding PRISM quartet offered a unique residency at the Curtis Institute. To many, the medium of the saxophone quartet is a perfect canvas for a young composer. It’s an ensemble with a homogenous sound and a history of exploring new sonorities and extended techniques, and PRISM proved to be the ideal group to mentor our composers to write for the medium. The composition students each created new pieces for PRISM, who workshopped their music in the fall and performed the new works in Philadelphia and New York in the spring. In addition, the students took an active role as producers in the recording of their pieces. To work with a group of this stature and to actively participate in the recording process was an invaluable experience that many fortunate composers have to wait until much further in their careers to receive.”
Testimonials
“It was a pleasure to have PRISM on campus this week. The two PRISM readings were fantastic! You treated each work with such care. I have never seen a group focus on such detail, have such great suggestions both musically and technically, and to do so with such kindness and care for the students and their creations. You all are clearly gifted teachers and I hope you do more of this.”
Testimonials
“The reaction to PRISM’s outreach program at the library was rave enthusiasm! We actually had children asking for books about music, musical instruments, jazz & famous musicians after one of your performances. What better way to get children aspiring to become performance artists than to have them be audiences to music and then read about it? We are thrilled to partner in bringing the future into perspective for young people.”
Residencies
Residency activity is vital to the artistic life and mission of the PRISM Quartet. It enables the ensemble to reach significantly broader and more diverse audiences, and contributes to the public’s understanding and appreciation of new music.
Member of the PRISM Quartet serve on the faculties of four of the nation’s leading universities: University of Michigan, Northwestern University, University of Missouri – Kansas City, and Temple University. They bring decades of pedagogical experience to the PRISM Quartet’s residency work, covering an enormous range of musical topics.
PRISM offers residency programs under the umbrella of its newly launched PRISM Quartet Institute, with the goal of enriching the cultural landscapes and serving student/emerging artists in host communities. Services are tailored to the needs and resources of the presenting/educational institutions and their constituents.
The PRISM Quartet maintains its own residency programs in Philadelphia, SE Michigan, and New York City and serves as artists-in-residence for the Interlochen Center for the Arts’ annual High School Saxophone Institute. PRISM has presented residency services at notable institutions nationwide, including the Curtis Institute of Music; the Eastman School of Music; Ithaca College; North Carolina School of the Arts; Oberlin Conservatory; Visiting Artists Series (Davenport); Pabst Theater (Milwaukee); the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association; The Walden School; Princeton, Arizona State, Brandeis, Brigham Young, Purdue, Georgia Southern universities; and the universities of Vermont, Illinois, and Southern California. PRISM has also presented residency programs on international tours throughout China, Russia, and Latin America.