UMS To Offer Free Livestream Of MUSIC FOR 18 MUSICIANS, 3/18

The University Musical Society (UMS) will offer a free online livestream of Eighth Blackbird and Third Coast Percussion's performance of Steve Reich's Sextet and Music for 18 Musicians on Saturday, March 18. The performance will be streamed live from the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium at approximately 8 pm Eastern Time at ums.org/18musicians and via Facebook Live at facebook.com/UMSNews. Viewers may register in advance at ums.org/18musicians in order to receive a reminder when the livestream begins. An archived version of the livestream will be made available for later viewing.

Steve Reich's work has embraced not only aspects of Western Classical music, but the structures, harmonies, and rhythms of non-Western and American vernacular music, particularly jazz. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music Composition in 2009 and is widely considered one of the handful of living composers to alter the direction of classical music's history. Reich celebrated his 80th birthday in 2016; the year also marked the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Music for 18 Musicians, considered by many to be his greatest composition. Two world-class ensembles from Chicago team up to perform the seminal piece, along with Reich's Sextet.

This livestream is funded in part by the Building Audiences for Sustainability initiative of The Wallace Foundation.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Launched by six entrepreneurial Oberlin Conservatory undergraduates in 1996, Eighth Blackbird first gained wide recognition as winners of the Concert Artists Guild Competition. Over the following two decades, Eighth Blackbird has commissioned and premiered hundreds of works by composers such as David Lang, Steven Mackey, Missy Mazzoli, and Steve Reich. Eighth Blackbird kicked off its 20th anniversary in 2016, garnering a fourth Grammy Award as well as the prestigious MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, followed by Chamber Music America's inaugural Visionary Award, and Musical America's Ensemble of the Year (2017).

Hailed by the New Yorker as "vibrant" and "superb," Third Coast Percussionexplores and expands the extraordinary sonic possibilities of the percussion repertoire. Founded in 2005, the ensemble has performed hundreds of concerts across the country, offers groundbreaking cross-disciplinary residencies, and has commissioned dozens of new works by composers including Glenn Kotche, David T. Little, Donnacha Dennehy, Timothy Andres, Chris Cerrone, TEd Hearne, and Augusta Read Thomas. Third Coast Percussion is the ensemble-in-residence at the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

ABOUT UMS
A recipient of the 2014 National Medal of Arts, UMS (also known as the University Musical Society) contributes to a vibrant cultural community by connecting audiences with performing artists from around the world in uncommon and engaging experiences. One of the oldest performing arts presenters in the country, UMS is an independent non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Michigan, presenting over 70 music, theater, and dance performances by professional touring artists each season, along with over 100 free educational activities. UMS is committed to bold artistic leadership, engaged learning through the arts, and access and inclusiveness. Since 1990, the organization has co-commissioned and supported the production of nearly 80 new or reimagined works.

(Photo Credit: UMS)

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