Guest Artists

Announcing our 2027 Guest Artists: Krakauer & Tagg

Grammy-nominated classical, world music artist DAVID KRAKAUER and acclaimed South African-raised pianist/composer/producer KATHLEEN TAGG have created a body of work that defies stylistic confines and embodies a celebration of identity, communication, dialogue and cross-cultural connection. Widely considered one of the greatest clarinetists on the planet, Krakauer has been praised internationally as a key innovator in modern klezmer as well as a major voice in classical music. Tagg is an award-winning pianist, composer and producer who has performed on four continents, produced a catalog of classical, and multi-genre albums, had her work performed around the world, and is becoming known for her distinctive sound that mixes together acoustic and electronic sounds, loops, samples and extended techniques.
David Krakauer & Kathleen Tagg have been working together since 2012, and the range and scope of their artistic output is staggering. They have been heard on some of the world’s major concert hall stages, jazz festivals and clubs. Their work has been performed at the Cité de la Musique in Paris, Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Gallery in Washington DC. 

From intimate, highly personal duo projects with their own repertoire and sound, touring to some of the world’s biggest stages, to large evening-length multimedia immersive concert experiences, to writing collaboratively for symphony orchestra, to creating and producing film scores (Berlin Biennale, OutFest), to large-scale cultural dialogue projects, to multi-cultural dance pop projects bringing together musicians and beat makers from very different backgrounds. (featured on NPR Morning edition with touring in the USA & Europe). They also run Table Pounding Music and Table Pounding Records. 

2024 Artists-in-Residence: Akropolis Reed Quintet

Akropolis Reed Quintet

2023: Tara Helen O’Connor & Daniel Phillips

Tara Helen O’Connor (flute)

Daniel Phillips (violin/viola)

2022: Claire Chase

Claire Chase (flute)

2021: Giora Schmidt

Giora Schmidt (violin)

2019: Matt Haimovitz & Michael Lowenstern

Matt Haimovitz (cello)

Michael Lowenstern (bass clarinet)

2026 Guest Artists: Horszowski Trio

Giving performances that are “lithe, persuasive” (The New York Times), “eloquent and enthralling” (The Boston Globe), the Horszowski Trio features two longtime MCMS faculty members, Jesse Mills (violin) and Rieko Aizawa (piano) alongside cellist Ole Akahoshi

2025 Guest Composer: Kenji Bunch

Kenji Bunch (Composer/Viola)

2024 Guest Artist: Colin Carr

Colin Carr (cello)

Former Guest Artists

2025 Guest Composer:

Kenji Bunch

Kenji Bunch (Composer/Viola)

2024 Artists-in-Residence: Akropolis Reed Quintet

Founded in 2009, the Billboard charting, 7-time national prize winning Akropolis Reed Quintet is “a sonically daring ensemble who specializes in performing new works with charisma and integrity” (BBC Music Magazine)

2023: Tara Helen O’Connor & Daniel Phillips

Tara Helen O’Connor (flute)

Daniel Phillips (violin/viola)

2022: Claire Chase

Claire Chase (flute)

2021: Giora Schmidt

Giora Schmidt (violin)

2019: Matt Haimovitz & Michael Lowenstern

Matt Haimovitz (cello)

Michael Lowenstern (bass clarinet)

2024 Guest Artist: Colin Carr

Colin Carr (cello)