a concept-based,

new music//new media

performing ensemble

Fuse Ensemble is a unique electroacoustic chamber ensemble. Each season a concept is presented, giving voice to new music composers and creating musical happenings with visual elements of live or interactive video, electronics, or kinetic installations. They joyfully collaborate with sculptors, visual artists, instrument makers, poets; with analog and digital artists of all types.

Upcoming Season

Speech and Silence, Fuse Ensemble’s 2024/2025 concert season, brings to the fore two ways of listening. In an alternating series of live music works (many with spoken word) and meditative videos of artist Edgar Endress, we gather in these two realms and explore the deep possibilities that lie within and outside of our auditory sphere. The audience contemplates a visual world in front of them, a quiet, direct experience of the mind as it is; until their listening is reawakened, drawn outwards by the live music piece that follows until the cycle begins anew. It has been said that while speech may divide us, silence can connect us – not only to each other, but to our deeper selves. Two ways of listening explored in succession, a push-pull, inside-out encounter between two worlds; Fuse Ensemble’s Speech and Silence holds much for the audience to discover.

Speech and Silence includes works by Pamela Z, Caroline Shaw, Brittany J. Green and Gina Biver, and a premiere of a solo work for bass by Ethan Foote. Select concerts also include works by Marc Mellits, Kevin Puts and Matteo dal Maso.

The ensemble is excited to be performing live in New York along with Pamela Z on her Ways of Looking in 2025! Stay tuned for details!!

Included this season are several original short films by new media artist Edgar Endress.

This season is partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and the Allan and Margot Blank Foundation.

Recordings

Fuse Ensemble has recorded on Neuma Records and Ravello Recordings. Click on the album covers below to listen or purchase.

Fuse Ensemble performs Fauna of Mirrors III by Juan Carlos Vasquez Gomez at Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington DC 3/3/2024. Animation by Michael J. Edwards

Scott Deal performs improvisation with Avatar AI system at Firehouse Theatre, Richmnd VA 2/26/2024

For more videos, please visit (and subscribe to!) our Fuse Ensemble YouTube Channel

Performance Videos

the dark, the light, and everything in between, by Sophia Jani, performed by Fuse Ensemble at Shockoe Sessions Live in Richmond, VA May 9, 2023

Fuse Ensemble performs The Unwinding by Nicole Mitchell with special guest Peter Greydanus, cello.

GASP, for fixed multi-channel audio live choir and film. Composed by Gina Biver, original film by Edgar Endress. Ashley Larson, soprano, Jon Carr, baritone, Elise Steenburgh, soprano, Frankie Lugiano and Gina Biver alto voices. Performed live at Spacebomb Studios, Richmond, VA; March 11, 2023

Caroline Shaw’s Limestone and Felt, performed by Fuse Ensemble at Georgetown University Friday Music Series. Erin Snedecor, cello, Greg Hiser, viola April 2019

Concert for the Trees (2022) for soprano and baritone voices, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, bass and piano by Gina Biver. Performed live in the woods of Shenandoah by Fuse Ensemble. Video by Steven Biver

Jung in the Desert, by composer Fernando Benadon, premiered by Fuse Ensemble at the Firehouse Space in Brooklyn NY.Jennifer Lapple flute; Angela Murakami clarinet, Ina Mirtcheva piano, Greg Hiser, violin, Pam Clem, cello, Marshall Maley, percussion. Saturday, June 16, 2012

Fuse Ensemble performs Likeness by Gina Biver at Atlas Performing Arts Center, Washington DC 3/3/2024 Film by AlsoSisters

Fuse Ensemble at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, performing works by Eve Beglarian, Patrick Burke, Adam Kendall, Ian Boddy/Norbert Attard and Gina Biver

Will There Be Jazz in Hell? by Ethan Foote; performed by Fuse Ensemble at Shockoe Sessions Live in Richmond, VA May 9, 2023