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EIGHTH BLACKBIRD: ENSEMBLE-IN-RESIDENCE                                    

Described by The New Yorker as "friendly, unpretentious, idealistic and highly skilled", eighth blackbird promises its ever-increasing audiences provocative and engaging performances. It is widely lauded for its performing style: often playing from memory with virtuosic and theatrical flair and its efforts to make new music accessible to wide audiences. A New York Times reviewer raved, "eighth blackbird's performances are the picture of polish and precision, and they seem to be thoroughly engaged by music in a broad range of contemporary styles." The sextet has been the subject of profiles in the New York Times and on NPR's All Things Considered; it has also been featured on CBS's Sunday Morning, St. Paul Sunday, Weekend America and The Next Big Thing, among others. The ensemble is in residence at the University of Richmond. Visit eigthblackbird.com for more information on 3P's ensemble-in-residence.

Samuel Kelder, viola

Violist Samuel Kelder is a multifaceted performer of contemporary music and proponent of interdisciplinary collaboration. Beginning his violin studies at the age of six in Houston, Texas, Sam grew up with an inquisitive mind for the arts and passionate dedication for sharing music with many communities. Described as “dynamic and committed” by the Boston Globe, Sam performs regularly in New England, namely with Callithumpian Consort, Sound Icon, Ensemble Mise En, Hub New Music, Times Arrow Ensemble, and various regional symphony orchestras. In addition to local projects, he has also performed as soloist at the Third Practice Electroacoustic Festival and NYCEMF. Sam holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, a Masters Degree from Mannes the New School for Music, and is in pursuit of his doctoral studies at Boston University as teaching assistant to Michelle LaCourse. Sam has had the great fortune to work with many prominent living composers such as Beat Furrer, Hans Abrahamsen, Olga Neuwirth, Krzysztof Penderecki, Roger Reynolds, Michael Finnissey, Joan Tower, William Bolcomb, Derek Bermel, and John Harbison. In his spare time Sam enjoys teaching, cooking, reading, and exploring.

Samuel is an artist member of Music for Food, a musician-led initiative to fight hunger in our home communities.

Wei-Han Wu, piano

Described as "brilliant" by the Pittsburgh Tribune, pianist Wei-Han Wu has performed in such venues as the Chicago Cultural Center, the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. He has been a featured performer at the Tanglewood, Aspen, Castleton, Lake George, and Walla Walla Chamber Music Festivals. Dedicated to the performance and promotion of new music, Mr. Wu is currently pianist for the [Switch~ Ensemble], and previously served as president of OSSIA New Music. He was the pianist for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble for three seasons, and appeared as guest with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble. A member of Pi Kappa Lambda, he is the recipient of a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Juilliard School, the Felicia Montealegre Fellowship from the Tanglewood Music Center, and the Collaborative Piano Fellowship from Bard College. Mr. Wu holds degrees from Northwestern and University of Michigan, and is currently pursuing a double doctoral degree in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano at the Eastman School of Music.