Metropolis Ensemble is thrilled to present the inaugural concert of our new Resident Artists Series- concerts, musical events, and social gatherings that feature our core ensemble artists as solo instrumentalists in creative collaborations with composers from all genres. Metropolis Ensemble’s founding harpist Bridget Kibbey kicks-off this new initiative with a concert presentation entitled Music Box, featuring the world-premieres of six newly commissioned works for solo harp. Music Box gathers music by composers born in other countries who now call the United States home. Moved by both their individual stories and their music, Bridget solicited new work whose inspiration is based in folk idioms from each composer’s country of origin as well as from their own personal narratives. The harp is an instrument emblematic of storytelling and folklore. Music Box will allow the harp to carry this tradition forward into the 21st century, giving expression to the diverse voices that make up contemporary American culture. I would especially like to thank June Wu for her extraordinary leadership and commitment to our performing artists and composers and to all those who contributed so generously to The June Wu Artist Fund to make this series possible. I would also like to thank the good people at (Le) Poisson Rouge, David Handler, Justin Cantor, and Ronen Givony as well as the able staff at LPR for being such important advocates and supporters of our community of emerging musicians and composers. Special thanks as well to Jessica Healy and Buffalo Trace, Jakub Ciupinski, Zipora Fried, Kristin Lee, Candice Madey, Jennifer McCrae, Andrew Schorr, Jonathan Schorr, Sara Menker, Jennifer Salomon, Richard Salomon and Laura Landro, Roy and Diana Vagelos, and tonight’s host committee for their efforts to broaden our community of fans, friends, and supporters. At these concerts, we are an orchestra of one, yet in Bridget’s hands (and feet), she will sound like many!