Gracey Carney, violin
Gracie Carney is sought after as a contemporary violinist, having performed the world premiere of Marcos Balter’s "Codex Seraphinius: Imagined Worlds" at the age of 17. Alongside Indiana University’s New Music Ensemble, Ms. Carney performed the Midwest premiere of David Ludwig’s violin concerto, "Paganiniana". Earlier that year, Ms. Carney premiered "Wake Up Gracie", a violin concerto written for her by Miggy Torres. Her latest concerto performance was the modern premiere of a violin concerto written by the classical era composer Regina Strinasacchi, performed on historical instruments.
Ms. Carney has held chamber music residencies at Napa Valley’s Music in the Vineyards, the Women Composers Conference, and the Catholic University of America. She currently holds positions with the Montreal-based baroque orchestra Ensemble Caprice, as well as with DC/Baltimore contemporary ensembles Balance Campaign and Mind on Fire, where she also serves as a board member. As a violist, she has been featured with the New York-based contemporary ensemble Ghost Ensemble.
Multi-instrumentalist Gracie Carney is known for her "out of the box" approach to classical music. Drawing on her experiences in both early music and contemporary music, Ms. Carney’s recital series and upcoming album, "String Crossings", integrate solo violin, baroque violin, and viola to bridge early and contemporary musical spheres. As a passionate educator for the Baltimore Symphony’s ORCHkids, Gracie Carney aims to present programs that are dynamic and accessible to all audiences.
Gracie Carney has studied violin under the tutelage of Mauricio Fuks and Grigory Kalinovsky, and baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she received her Bachelor’s of Music and a Performance Diploma as the Leonard Bernstein Fellow. She graduated with her Master’s of Music from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music under Violaine Melancon. Ms. Carney is currently completing her certification in literary and music braille translation.
eMORY HENSLEY, PERCUSSION
Emory Hensley is a freelance performer and educator currently residing in College Park, Maryland. His love for chamber music has led him to work with a variety of composers and performers.
He is a founding member of 10-can percussion, a contemporary percussion group committed to the performance of new and classic works for percussion. The group is currently in residence at Mars Hill University where they regularly offer masterclasses and performances. Emory also performs with Balance Campaign, a chamber music group dedicated to discovering and showcasing modern works in the Washington D.C. area. The group has been the ensemble in residence at The University of Maryland-Baltimore, as well as District New Music Coalition.
As an educator, Emory offers a wide range of experiences. He is currently on faculty at the International School of Music in Bethesda, Maryland. Previously, he served as an elementary school teacher for Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina, teaching music students from kindergarten through fifth grade. With a strong background in marching percussion, Emory has been on the instructional staff for award winning ensembles in both the Drum Corps Associates and Winterguard International competitive circuits.
Emory received his Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Tennessee under Dr. Andrew Bliss and Keith Brown, and his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Mars Hill University under Dr. Brian Tinkel. Emory is an artist with Innovative Percussion, and a member of the Percussive Arts Society.
eLIZABETH G. HILL, PIANO
A recognized leader in contemporary music advocacy, pianist Elizabeth G. Hill has led and performed in the D.C. area’s most prominent ensembles, and is also known for her work as a solo performer, educator, and lecturer. A highly-regarded artist, she has performed lecture-recitals and concerts in thirteen US states and in Europe, including for the Embassy Concert Series in Washington DC, the Center for Jewish History in New York, and the Robert-Schumann-Haus in Zwickau, Germany.
Elizabeth dedicates much of her career to bridging cultures through music, and realizes this vision through her leadership within two prominent chamber ensembles within the Washington, D.C. area. Her duo Meraki, which she co-founded in 2016, focuses on performing culturally essential music, and has performed in eight U.S. states and held residencies at three universities. Recently, the ensemble performed at New Music DC 2019, where it premiered Jerod Tate’s “HelohaOkchamali” as an honoree of Chamber Music America’s Classical Commissioning Program. Elizabeth helps promote the advancement of contemporary music in the DC area through serving as an administrator of the District New Music Coalition. Outside of these ventures, she continues to devote herself to the performance of contemporary works: recent premieres of new work include at D.C.’s Fringe Festival, New Music D.C., and with the Great Noise Ensemble at the West Fork New Music Festival in Fairmont, WV.
In the 2020-21 season, Elizabeth is looking forward to numerous virtual performances, including digital solo concerts, chamber performances, appearances as a Performance Ambassador for the Boulanger Initiative, performances for the National Philharmonic chamber series and performances with the American Pops Orchestra. Elizabeth is also thrilled to serve as Artist-In-Residence this season for the Music of Grace Concert Series in Silver Spring, Maryland. Through her residency, she will assist in curating an entirely virtual season of performances that promotes diversity through programming and their featured artists.
Meghan shanley alger, flutes
Flutist Meghan Shanley Alger explores sounds on everything from harmonica and beer bottles to live electronics, knitting needles, and pencils. With an uncanny ability to create specific atmospheres, even the New York Times has praised Meghan for “singing into her flute to produce surreal and eerie timbres.” She ventures into the extreme with composers, pushing the boundaries of what is possible to create new worlds. Her performance credits include the Kennedy Center, AMP by Strathmore and Peabody Library of Baltimore, as well as Symphony Space and Carnegie Hall.
Shanley Alger uses commissioning and programming to advance social change, designing concerts that prompt reflection and participation from audiences. Current projects include a debut album of living women composers highlightighting the power of the archetypal feminine energy, with works by Pamela Z, Lunon, Socolofsky, and Nourbakhsh. Other projects include a participatory concert in which audiences honored lost loved ones.
The ensemble she co-founded, Balance Campaign, consists of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion. A laboratory of sound and experimentation, Balance Campaign collaborates with composers to reimagine the concert experience and surprise listeners. The ensemble’s debut recording features a work by Nathan Lincoln de Cusatis that highlights human evolution and our impact on the planet. Upcoming collaborations include works by Alexandra T Bryant and Ashi Day that focus on everything from moms and mice to the Salem Witch Trials.
As a teaching artist, Meghan has presented workshops and residencies in Italy at the Alba Music Festival as well as University of Maryland and Catholic University. Committed to connecting with students and audiences through shared experience and insight, Meghan regularly presents community engagement performances at schools, universities, and festivals.
Erin snedecor, cello
Erin Snedecor is a cellist based in the DC area who specializes in contemporary chamber music, improvisation, songwriting, and collaborative art. Her interdisciplinary work has lead her to create many of her own ensembles, where in addition to performing she acts as co-founder, composer, songwriter, arranger, manager, and beyond.
Erin is a founding member, cellist, and music director of Balance Campaign, a contemporary sextet dedicated to the commission and performance of new works. She also performs with earspace, a North Carolina-based contemporary ensemble that curates multi-sensory programs in unexpected venues.
In addition to her classical projects, Erin is known for her ability to perform with a multitude of musicians and artists. In 2009, Erin joined forces with Annapolis indie rock band Pompeii Graffiti, appearing on 3 studio albums and performing in local and touring performances. She is also half of the indie/folk duo Black Rhinoceros, and a writer and performer of classical electronica quartet DoubleSpeak. Most recently, Erin released an album of original music under her solo moniker, Zooxanthellae, available on Off Latch Press.
Jennifer Tscheulin, Clarinets
Jennifer Tscheulin is a vibrant clarinetist and bass clarinetist who regularly performs throughout the Eastern seaboard. She teaches clarinet and World of Music at Morgan State University, as well as clarinet at the Peabody Preparatory, both located in Baltimore, MD. Jennifer regularly performs with the Washington Chamber Orchestra and Mind on Fire New Music Ensemble. She has also played with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the American Pops Orchestra, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony and the NakedEye New Music Ensemble. While playing many genres of music, Jennifer has premiered and recorded many new commissions from living composers throughout the United States and abroad.
Jennifer received her Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from Indiana University and her Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance from the Peabody Conservatory, studying with Howard Klug and Steven Barta, respectively.