American Music Series

American Music Series

Music Box Poster

The American Music Series was launched in September of 2009 with the aim of bringing excellent American performers to Ukraine to enhance connections and collaboration between U.S. and Ukraine artists and cultural institutions.   Three concert tours have already taken place:  the classical jazz group Ryan Cohen Quartet, with soul vocalist Cynthia Scott in October 2009, the New York jazz vocalist and group Arlee Leonard and Friends in May 2010 and bluesman Melvin Taylor in September 2010.  The concerts have already been seen by more than 10,000 Ukrainians.   The series will continue to explore American musical talent and genres with upcoming concerts, master classes and events.  

For more on sponsorship opportunities please contact the cultural office of the American Embassy in Ukraine.  Clearysm@state.gov; tel: (38044) 490–4066. 

Events

Music Box –Kyiv Outpost at Art Arsenal
September 19 – 30, 2012

On Wednesday, September 19, at 7 p.m. U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft will open the new Music Box –Kyiv Outpost exhibit at the Mystetskyi Arsenal.  A reception and concert featuring music group TopOrkestra and the Music Box follow.  The U.S. Embassy is sponsoring the Music Box –Kyiv Outpost project with partners Mystetksyi Arsenal and New Orleans Airlift. 

The Music Box – Outpost Kyiv builds on the critically acclaimed musical architecture developed in New Orleans’s Bywater neighborhood by the Art Collective “New Orleans Airlift.”  The project almost exclusively uses recycled building materials, salvage and junk to create small houses which are sonically enhanced to serve as instruments – allowing musicians to “play” different structural aspects of each house like floor boards, walls, or windows.  Music Box – Outpost Kyiv  project is an extension of the New Orleans Music Box with a Ukrainian accent.  The Embassy has sponsored three of the original members of the Music Box project: Curator Delaney Martin and sound artists Taylor Shepherd and Andrew Schrock to come to Kyiv and collaborate with musicians and pioneers in Ukraine’s art and music scene such as Kotra, Zavoloka, Ivanov Down, Dmytro Nikolaienko, Anastasiya Shulgina, Alla  Zagaykevych, TopOrkestra, and Bogdan Gumenyuk.  The result of their collaboration is an interactive installation based on a 10 x 10 meter house with 10 unique instruments of American and Ukrainian design.  As part of the installation Music Box – Kyiv Outpost will offer youth workshops in experimental music, concerts by Ukrainian artists and presentations by New Orleans Airlift.

A major Concert featuring all collaborators will be held at 20:00 on Saturday, September 22 at Mystetskyi Arsenal.

Music Box at Mystetskyi Arsenal Schedule:

Wednesday, Sept 19th

7:00 to 9:00 pm:  Opening Ceremony featuring music by TopOrkestra (by invitation)

Thursday, Sept 20th

2:00 - 3:00 pm: Children’s Workshop (call to register, space limited)

3:30 - 4:30 pm: Children’s Workshop (call to register, space limited)

7:00 pm: “The Music Box Project” Presentation by Music Box Curator Delaney Martin of New Orleans Airlift followed by Music Box Jam Session (Open to Public)

Friday, Sept 21st

2:00 – 8:00 pm: Music Box closed for concert rehearsal

Saturday, Sept 22nd

8:00 pm: Grand finale concert with Conductor Kotra and Zavoloka

Children’s Workshops

(for ages 11 years old and older) call to register, space limited

Sunday, Sept 23d 11:30 аm – 12:30:

Tuesday, Sept 25th  12:00-1:00 PM

Wednesday, Sept 26th   1:00-2:00 PM

Thursday, Sept 27th  6:00-8:00 PM

Saturday, Sept 29th  2:00-3:00 PM

Sunday, Sept 30th  1:00-2:00 PM

Free admission!

For more information please call:
+38 044 288 51 40
+38 050 443 07 02

Registration for workshops and events for children: project@artarsenal.gov.ua                                                                                                                      

For press inquiries: 044 288 52 26, pressa@artarsenal.in.ua
Address: Mystetskyi Arsenal, 12 Lavrska Street, Kyiv www.artarsenal.gov.ua

Watch a Video of a Past Performance at The Music Box in New Orleans

“There is a rotating cast of performers for the concerts, and the range is eclectic.”
– The New York Times
 
“Conducted by Quintron, the performances were mostly haunting electro-acoustic soundscapes that melded elements of Stockhausen and Brian Eno with hints of funk and bounce.”
– Art Papers