2015 Cedar Cultural Center 416 Club Commissions Announced

The Cedar Cultural Center’s 416 Club Commission Series is one of the coolest things going on in local music these days. Every year a group of artists is selected to develop an original work to be performed on the Cedar’s stage (and occasionally off the stage as well). 2015’s selections were just announced and they look pretty exciting! We loved Gao Hong at the Square Lake Festival last summer, and Brute Heart’s Crystal Myslajek is also a welcome addition. Plus north Indian classical music? Traditional Somali music? Claasical/Hip Hop fusion? Should definitely be very interesting stuff! The full lineup and Cedar’s press release are below:

Lineup:

Israel Vega

Toby Ramaswamy

Joey Phillips

Ahmed Gaashaanle

Crystal Myslajek

Gao Hong

The Cedar: January 27th kicks off the series with Israel Vega’s Psychosis of the Angels, a piece that combines traditional Son Jarocho with electronic music to explore the battles of paranoia and abandonment. Performing that same evening will be Toby Ramaswamy and his 10-15 person guitar ensemble playing his new piece that uses elements of North Indian classical music. January 28th debuts Joey Phillips’ classical percussion/hip-hop fusion ensemble of 8-12 players with Twin Cities based Somali artist Ahmed Gaashaanle who will perform works based on traditional Somali music using variations of Somali tribal dialects. The final concert on January 29th will feature Goa Hong’s “Gao Hong on the Highway,” which recreates her experience learning to drive on an American highway while listening to the radio. Concluding the evening will be Crystal Myslajek who will premiere a full-on sensory experience called Glaciers: Spacious works for two pianos, double bass, voice and film. 

The success of the first three cycles of our 416 Club Commissions program inspired The Cedar to share these dynamic artists’ pieces with a larger community outside of the Twin Cities. This past fall, The Cedar launched MN EXPRESS, a state-wide touring program funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board, that put five previous 416 Club Commissions recipients on a bus for a ten-day, five-city tour of the state. Grace Evenson, The Cedar’s Booking Assistant and MN Express Touring Coordinator, said “MN Express was warmly welcomed into each community we visited, allowing us to connect with audiences outside of the Metro Area. The former 416 Artists successfully adapted their commissions for the tour, resulting in beautiful, collaborative music.” With very enthusiastic responses from the venues and audiences of each MN Express stop, The Cedar hopes to continue the program next year.