Basel Sinfonietta (Principal 2nd)
The Basel Sinfonietta is an orchestra with a symphonic instrumentation specializing in contemporary music, and in this respect, it is a unique ensemble in the classical music scene. The principal conductor of the Basel Sinfonietta is Titus Engel.
Driven by its ambition to perform music that is in tune with the times, the Basel Sinfonietta has been breaking with classical concert conventions since its founding in 1980 and demonstrates an eagerness to explore other genres and cultures in its programs.
The Basel Sinfonietta collaborates with leading contemporary composers. The orchestra has commissioned numerous works and has presented more than 240 world premieres and national premieres since its founding.
Broken Frames Syndicate
Broken Frames Syndicate is a ten-piece ensemble of soloists based in Frankfurt am Main dedicated to the interpretation of contemporary music and the expansion of contemporary concert culture. The ensemble was awarded the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation Ensemble Prize in 2024 for its innovative projects and unmistakable waves already being felt in the frequencies of contemporary music.
Broken Frames Syndicate was founded in 2018 after a year of studying together at the International Ensemble Modern Academy (IEMA). This intensive time has resulted in a strong ensemble bond, freedom while on stage, and fresh interpretations of modern classics and new works. After their studies, the ensemble dove into the freelance scene establishing themselves as a group built on pursuing socially relevant concert programs, collaborating with interdisciplinary artists, and working with young composers.
Rothko String Quartet
The Rothko String Quartet (RSQ), consisting of Marc Kopitzki (Viola), Jakob Nierenz (Cello), Joosten Ellée (Violin) and William Overcash (Violin), was founded in Lueneburg, Germany in 2017. The latter two specialized in the study of both early and contemporary music, which gives the ensemble a high degree of flexibility in dealing with different styles of classical music, enabling a wide variety of concert programs. Embodying this stylistic diversity, the RSQ sees it as its task to give a voice to the music of marginalized composers and to bring lesser-known works of classical music history to light.
The collaborative spirit of the four musicians characterizes not only their collaboration with contemporary composers and artists from different disciplines, but also their attitude towards each other in rehearsals. In addition to performing newly composed music, the RSQ is interested in dissolving the boundaries between (musical) genres and works with producers, composers, improvisers and visual artists. Important partners include Mirna Bogdanovic and the Holon Trio (jazz), Sadie Weis (visual arts) and dOP (techno).
Together with its partner PODIUM Esslingen, the RSQ develops exciting concert programs that are performed at major classical music festivals. The quartet regularly performs at the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, the Duesseldorf Festival! and the PODIUM Festival Esslingen and will make its debut at the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival, the Thueringer Bachwochen and the Mozartfest Wuerzburg in 2024.
Wolftone
Wolftone is a duo project composed of Will Overcash (violin) and Ben Roidl-Ward (bassoon). With the goal of expanding the possibilities of their unusual instrumental pairing, this duo collaborates with composers to create exciting new repertoire. Ben and Will got to know each other as students at the Oberlin Conservatory, and formed Wolftone in 2016 while they were both students at Rice University. That summer, they toured to Houston, New York, Chicago, Oberlin, and Cleveland, performing 3 newly commissioned works supported by the Sviatoslov Richter Fund and the Lovett Traveling Fellowship.
In 2017, the duo moved–Will to Frankfurt and Ben to Chicago. Since then, they have continued their collaboration on both continents. Performing throughout the U.S., Germany, and Spain, Wolftone has premiered eight new works to date, recorded for Edition Zeitgenössische Musik (Germany) and Protomaterial Records (Spain), and has garnered support from the Illinois Arts Council (US), the Luminarts Cultural Foundation (US), and the Goethe Institute (GER).
ensemble reflektor (Concertmaster)
The North German chamber-orchestra ensemble reflektor sees itself as an ambassador for a musical culture without borders. The musicians of ensemble reflektor work together to develop concert programs that combine different works beyond their genres. Whether in clubs or industrial halls, as an orchestra or in chamber music ensembles, the musicians create a special closeness to their audience with their creative formats and enable a new approach to music.
The chamber orchestra was awarded the Max Brauer Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation for its social commitment and was the first orchestra ever to receive the NORDMETALL Ensemble Prize from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival. The Hanseatic City of Lüneburg also awarded ensemble reflektor the 2021 Art Prize for Music and Theater. In 2024, the Gunter and Juliane Ribke Foundation honored the ensemble for its pioneering work in the field of music education.
The ensemble’s debut CD, “Gewaltakt,” was followed by their second album, “Liebeslied,” in 2020. Albums with the jazz ensemble HOLON Trio and ARD prize winner Mathis Stier were also released. This was followed in 2024 by the release of LAUTER! featuring works by composers Ethel Smyth, Ying Wang, and inti figgis-vizueta.
William Overcash, VIolin 