PICOSA
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : p*********c@g***l.c*m
Mission Statement
Picosa is a dynamic force in Chicago music, presenting concert programs that showcase its signature symphonic sound and eclectic repertoire that crosses traditional boundaries of time and genres. A mixed chamber ensemble, Picosa is comprised of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and composer-in-residence, and serves in teaching and performing residencies at Elmhurst College and North Central College . It has also presented dozens of performances in elite concert series including Ear Taxi Festival, The Frequency Series at Constellation Chicago, Music Mondays at the Cultural Center of Chicago, among others. Picosa premiered Augusta Read Thomas’s Scat, which was commissioned for the ensemble and is now published by G. Schirmer as the composer’s preferred version. Upcoming performances include a "Live from WFMT with Kerry Frumkin" live broadcast and a feature concert in the Rush Hour Concert Series. Picosa is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. For more information, visit PicosaMusic.com.
About This Cause
MISSION Picosa is a mixed chamber ensemble (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, composition) specializing in classical contemporary music and more. As collaborative soloists without conductor, it is infinitely more economical and adaptable than an orchestra. Its diversity of instruments, its nimble structure from soloist to full ensemble, and its eclectic repertoire defy the traditional limits of the classical music experience and bring a compelling new experience to the stage. Picosa presents a body of repertoire that represents the essence of the human experience in all its depth and magnitude. Concerts blend masterworks of the baroque, classical, and romantic eras side by side with gems of contemporary music, all while also embracing diverse cultures and media seamlessly. Past seasons have included works by Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart together with contemporary composers such as Fred Onovwerosuoke, Asha Srinivasan, and Florent Ghys. This approach to programming creates an artistic experience that reflects the vital tapestry of diversity represented throughout our country’s history. Picosa is also committed to its belief that music builds community. Picosa’s Meet the Musicians post-concert gourmet dessert receptions give audience members an opportunity to connect with the ensemble and each other. Picosa’s Interludes Chamber Ensembles pre-concert performances gives rising and amateur musicians the opportunity to share the stage with the ensemble. Finally, Picosa’s ongoing partnership with Hesed House uses music to support the work lifting people out of homelessness and entertaining residents with performances and donations. ENGAGING MUSIC: Picosa’s core identity revolves around bringing virtuosic performances of eclectic and intriguing repertoire to the stage, and therefore its most valued process revolves around choosing concert programs. The process begins as each member recommends works for the upcoming season, which are culled together by Artistic Director Jennie Brown like a large musical jigsaw puzzle. Aesthetically speaking, Picosa embraces the idea of contrast and complementarity. Common themes emerge to unify a concert amidst a juxtaposition of unique styles, and yet it is this very juxtaposition that highlights each works intrinsic beauty. The process of choosing programs represents the Picosa collective: six unique, diverse musicians collaborating within a unified vision of artistry. ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY: Picosa musicians have created two opportunities to build community and to encourage those around us. Our Meet the Musicians post-concert gourmet receptions are a favorite part of the Picosa concert experience. These receptions give the ensemble valuable audience feedback and are one of many reasons audience members come to live performances. Picosa also features the music of local composers each season. In addition to composers who have received accolades, Picosa has programmed the music of repeat season ticket holders who compose and cherish the opportunity to hear their works performed in concert. ENRICHING LIVES: From the very beginning, the ensemble has enjoyed a partnership with Hesed House, an organization that assists people rising out of homelessness. Picosa offers discounted tickets to audience members donating money and needed goods, free tickets to Hesed House employees and residents, and music workshops for resident children. The musicians of Picosa also taught and performed for local schools and created the Interludes Chamber Ensembles program, where amateur and student ensembles are invited to perform pre-concert programs. _____________ HISTORY Picosa is a mixed chamber music ensemble founded in 2014 and based in Chicago. At its core, Picosa presents great masterworks in uniquely intimate concert settings and invites audiences to engage in these concert experiences to see up close how musicians interact with each other and the music itself. During its first season, Picosa established its concert homes in the elegant, modern space at Pianoforte Chicago and the historically grand Mayslake Peabody Estate. Highlights of the second season included performances at the Chicago Cultural Center and in the open air Thirsty Ear Festival in Ravenswood. In its third season, Picosa performed for Ear Taxi Festival as well as for the Frequency Series at Constellation Chicago. Now in its fourth season, performances include venues like Fourth Presbyterian Church, a live broadcast for "Live from WFMT with Kerry Frumkin" in June 2018, and Rush Hour concert series in August 2018. The ensemble takes pride in championing the works of Chicago composers and remains committed to bringing music from diverse contexts to the stage. As Picosa’s Composer-in-Residence, Jonathon Kirk has written and transcribed numerous works for the ensemble each season. Of particular note is his innovative work Mechanical Birds, which incorporates the song of the extinct Kauai Oo bird within a contemporary context. Its Fourth Presbyterian Church concert was hosted by the Musicians Club of Women and featured music by Amy Beach, the first American woman to reach the most elite circle of composers. This season will also close with a concert featuring music by Spanish and Latin American composers including well-known composer Joaquin Turina side-by-side with lesser known, acclaimed Panamian composer Roque Cordero. _______________ COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY Picosa eclectic musical worldview embraces a core value of diversity and equity, which has been pervasive in its concert programming since its inception. Each concert represents a vast and diverse spectrum of voices which crosses boundaries of time and culture. Two masterworks are considered “signature pieces” by members of the ensemble, Mirage by Shulamit Ran and Scat by Augusta Read Thomas. These two remarkable women, who also serve on Picosa’s Advisory Board, have changed the landscape of contemporary music with their powerful and exquisitely crafted music, their vision and entrepreneurship, and by their sheer presence in a field completely dominated by men. Past seasons have included works by Shawn Okpebholo, Fred Onovwerosuoke, Misook Kim, Felipe Perez Santiago, Asha Srinivasan, and many more. The 2018-19 season closed with a program by Spanish and Latin American composers. It is this juxtaposition of great and diverse voices, carefully curated to highlight the majesty of each work, that makes Picosa’s programming shine amidst a repetitive sea of commonplace performances. A concert in development for next season highlights the music of the middle east with guest artist Ronnie Malley, oud. At the center of the program will be a new work for Malley and the ensemble written by Picosa’s Composer-in-Residence Jonathon Kirk. Surrounding this work will be Malley’s setting of Arabic folk songs together with works by Shulamit Ran, Augusta Read Thomas, and Iranian composer Behzad Ranjbaran. Closing the program will be a newly composed work for Picosa and chorus, written by Kirk through a consortium commission with multiple local colleges and universities. The inspiration behind this concert is the concept of “minding the gap”. Arabic music is often a fundamental influence in classical music, but so often neglected historically. Bringing these rich traditions together will create a new, compelling, and eye-opening concert experience for all. _______________ FUTURE GOALS ARTISTIC INITIATIVES: Picosa is transforming the traditional concert experience through its unique and innovative approach to programming. In addition to its eclectic repertoire, it also showcases original works and skillful transcriptions of classical masterpieces by its Composer-in-Residence Jonathon Kirk. Orchestral masterworks transcribed by Kirk bring original 70 instrument versions to exquisitely distilled 5 instrument chamber versions for our ensemble. Kirk’s transcription of Claude Debussy’s pivotal work Prélude á l’aprés-midi d’un faune has been performed numerous times in varying contexts and is becoming a signature piece for the ensemble. The lyrical slow movement of Maurice Ravel’s lush Piano Concerto in G Major is exquisitely beautiful in Kirk’s miniaturized setting. Finally, the 2017 transcription of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring brings 20th century Americana melodies to Picosa’s stage. Future transcription projects being considered include Stravinsky's Petrouchka and Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals. Proposed future partnerships include work with Ronnie Malley (oud, multi-instrumentalist and Arabic music specialist), as well as a collaborative consortium commission for Picosa and chamber choir with Chicago area colleges and universities. STUDENT LEARNING: Picosa enjoys ongoing teaching and performing residencies in the Music Departments at Elmhurst College and North Central College and in a 2019 guest residency for the composition department at Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. With a dedication to lifelong learning, Picosa created Interludes Chamber Ensembles which provides performing opportunities for students and amateur musicians, including retirees. The ensemble has also hosted music workshops for the children at Hesed House as well as in high schools, colleges, and retirement homes. The ensemble also offers free student tickets and $10 chaperone tickets. The direct benefit to creating these programs is a growing presence of students in our concert audiences and “word of mouth” ticket sales. Picosa hopes to increase this presence from its current 10% of the audience to 20% or more, consistently. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: The effectiveness of Picosa’s Artistic and Student Learning initiatives has contributed to the increasing vibrancy of its concert experience. Further success in audience development can be measured in three forms: ticket sales, audience engagement at receptions, and growing email distribution lists and social media. We seek to better identify and understand our target audience and remain committed to education and lifelong learning.