Keir GoGwilt

Keir GoGwilt is a violinist, composer, and musicologist who was born in Edinburgh and grew up in New York City. His work combines historical research and collaborative experimentation. As a violinist he has been described as a "formidable performer" (New York Times) with an "evocative sound" (London Jazz News) and "finger-busting virtuosity" (San Diego Union Tribune). In past seasons he has soloed with groups including the Sinfonieorchester Basel, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Chinese National Symphony, Orquesta Filarmonica de Santiago, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the La Jolla Symphony. A founding member of the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC), he has performed original, collaboratively-devised music, dance, and theater works at 92NY, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Luminato Festival, PS 122 COIL, Stanford Live, American Repertory Theater, Carolina Performing Arts, Momentary, Monday Evening Concerts, and the Ojai Music Festival.

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Coleman Itzkoff

Hailed by Alex Ross in The New Yorker for his “flawless technique and keen musicality,” cellist Coleman Itzkoff enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. Recent season highlights include solo performances with the Houston Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, American Youth Symphony at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and chamber music performances at Caramoor, YellowBarn, Union College, and Marlboro Music Festival. Coleman demonstrates versatility and command of a wide variety of musical styles, equally comfortable with Renaissance and Baroque music played on period instruments as he is with the eclectic and evermore technically challenging music of today.

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Keita Ogawa

Hailing originally from Sasebo city, Nagasaki, Japan, Keita Ogawa is 5 times Grammy nominees and 3 times Grammy Award winner and one of the most versatile and sought-after percussionist and drummer in New York City.

He started his music career on drum set at the age of 15.

After performing regularly in Tokyo for several years, Keita decided to pursue his musical studies overseas. He was accepted into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in fall of 2005 where he studied with legendary musicians and educators Manuel “Egui” Castrillo, Jamey Haddad, Tito De Gracia, David Rosado, and Mark Walker. Seeking full immersion into the world of Brazilian percussion, Keita relocated to Rio de Janeiro for 3 months and studied with the some of the country’s most respected musicians- Jorginho do Pandeiro, Celsinho Silva, Kiko Freitas, and Marcio Bahia among others.

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Ariel Horowitz

Hailed by The Washington Post as “Sweetly Lyrical,” violinist, composer/songwriter, and community organizer Ariel Horowitz cannot remember life before loving music.

In 2020, Ariel joined the Concert Artists Guild roster for North American management, and enjoys an active touring schedule as a soloist and as one-half of Vision Duo, an ensemble formed with fellow CAG artist Britton-René Collins in 2021.

As a composer, songwriter, and avid improviser, Ariel's original music centers themes of healing, community, and liberation. They have performed their compositions and songs around the world, including at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

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James Moore

James Moore is a composer, guitarist, and bandleader who has earned the titles of “local electric guitar hero" by Time Out New York and "model new music citizen" by The New York Times. He enjoys an active career writing, performing, and collaborating with an eclectic community of artists, bringing in influences from classical, folk, jazz, indie rock, and experimental music.

Moore’s concerto for electric guitar and orchestra, Sleep is Shattered, which he premiered as composer and soloist for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW series, was praised by the Chicago Tribune as “… a highlight among highlights, not only for Moore’s sharp-eared handling of the solo guitar lines and loop pedals but his remarkable orchestral writing.” In this piece–originally written for the influential guitarist Marc Ribot–as in many of his projects, Moore enjoys bringing together unique entities and developing a collective language.

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Conner Simmons

Conner Simmons is a double bassist, composer, and computer musician from Denton, Texas, living in NYC. Described by composer and vocalist Annika Socolofsky as “the perfect blend of soup and stew,” their music sifts through quiet sounds and fragile textures to conjure sparse, atmospheric, improvisational chamber music. Performance engagements of theirs include seasons with the Shreveport Symphony, the NY debut of Chris Cerrone’s opera In a Grove, where they performed live electronics with Metropolis Ensemble, and a run of shows as principal bassist for the Martha Graham Dance Company production of Rite of Spring. Recordings of their playing can be heard on Texas-based experimental music labels Sawyer Editions and Full Spectrum and on the world premiere recording of Julius Eastman’s Symphony No. 2 (forthcoming).

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