We're re-emerging!

Ten years after EVP's inception we're doing it all again!

In 2009, just out of school and starting music careers in New York City, Elisabeth Halliday-Quan and Zach Herchen formed The Emerging Voices Project, a voice/sax duo commissioning, performing, and recording new works for soprano and saxophone. We loved the combo of our instruments, but couldn't find any music! After a successful three years of commissioning pieces, touring the new works, and releasing a CD, we retired our duo.

A lot has changed since then.

In the current increasingly hostile climate - an economy hostile to artists, a government hostile to all our vulnerable populations, and a planet becoming more hostile to life itself - we are moved to look at our communities and lift up perspectives, using the lens of "Place."

How do we define "Place"? It it where we are from? Where we were formed? How we are constrained? Who we are with on the journey?

The Emerging Voices Project reboot will commission five composers with diverse perspectives to create Place-works for voice and saxophone.

Join us on the journey!

-Elisabeth & Zach

"Two Songs for the Sounds Outside" by Kathleen Bader

Kathleen Bader joined Emerging Voices Project for our recent show at Minás Gallery and Boutique (Baltimore, MD). Below you can watch her talk about our commissioned piece "Two Songs for the Sounds Outside", plus a live performance from our NYC CD release show! Funded in part through New Music USA’s MetLife Creative Connections program.

Pre-performance talk:

 EVP premiere in NYC, from 2011:

Talk with Kathleen Bader

Funded in part through New Music USA's MetLife Creative Connections program. Before our recent Baltimore show, we got a chance to sit down with composer Kathleen Bader for an in-depth talk about her music, text writing, and love for Arizona.  Kathleen was commissioned by us for our CD project, resulting in "Two Songs for The Sounds Outside". We'll post again tomorrow to share a short talk and a performance video of her piece.

Funded in part through New Music USA's MetLife Creative Connections program.

Coming to Baltimore

Watch out, Baltimore!

We will be performing at Mina's Gallery on Saturday, March 23rd @ 5pm.

The Emerging Voices Project is winding to a close and this will most likely be our last Baltimore performance.

If you join us on the 23rd here are all the cool things you'll get:

1. Baltimore composer and performer Ruby Fulton as an opener
2. A live interview with EVP composer Kathleen Bader
3. The Maryland premier of Amy Beth Kirsten's piece "Fire Balloon"
4. Our awesome CD! ...if you pay us $10 :)

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, March 23rd @ 5pm

Mina's Gallery

815 West 36th Street

Baltimore, MD

Reviewed by I Care If You Listen

David Pearson wrote a review of our cd Emerging Voices over at the wonderful blog I Care If You Listen!

"On the whole I think this disc is a great success at putting the saxophone and soprano voice together, and will hopefully influence saxophonists to put greater attention to beauty and blend. The timbres and phrasing of both Herchen and Halliday reflect a lot of hard work and contemplation, and the composers likewise have molded their music to the unique qualities of this duo."

Read the full review: http://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2013/01/emerging-voices-blend-and-beauty-from-saxophonesoprano-duo/

"The Person In The Room Wishes To Be Left Alone" by George Lam

During our recent performances, we had the chance to bring George Lam with us to Cambridge, MA to talk about his piece The Person In The Room Wishes To Be Left Alone. This piece was commissioned by Emerging Voices Project, and included in our CD. Check it out:

Pre-performance talk:

 EVP premiere in NYC, from 2011:

 Funded in part through New Music USA’s MetLife Creative Connections program!

Belcher/Hennessy/Ojeda trio

 Jason Belcher and friends open for Emerging Voices Project with an improvised set.  This is from our show on November 18, 2012 at Out of The Blue Art Gallery in Cambridge, MA.

Leah Hennessy - Voice
Jason Belcher - Valve trombone
Frank Ojeda - Bass