Kaufman Music Center Announces Artists-in-Residence 

For the 2021-22 season, the artists-in-residence include VC Artist Charles Yang and his duo partner Peter Dugan, Imani Winds, and Kamala Sankaram

The artists will perform in Kaufman Music Center’s (KMC) Merkin Hall and work with multiple music education institutions. These include the Special Music School, a K-12 public school teaching music as a core subject, Lucy Moses School, NYC’s largest community music school, and the Face the Music program playing music from living composers. 

VC Artist violinist and vocalist Charles Yang is the Recipient of the 2018 Leonard Bernstein Award and a member of the crossover string-band, Time for Three. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and in concert in the United States, Europe, Brazil, Russia, China, and Taiwan.

In addition to performing internationally as a pianist, Peter Dugan is heard as the host of NPR’s program From the Top. He has performed in duos and trios with artists like Itzhak Perlman and Renee Fleming.

The Wall Street Journal described Yang and Dugan’s collaboration as a “classical-meets-rockstar duo.” You can watch them perform as part of The Violin Channel's Vanguard Concert series.

The Imani Winds ensemble is a GRAMMY-nominated wind quintet that, through the residency, will be performing the world premiere of Andy Akiho’s “Be-longing Project,” addressing today’s immigration issues.

Kamala Sankaram is a composer, soprano, and bandleader. Known for her work with emerging technologies, her recent genre-defying piece Looking at You featured live data mining of the audience and a chorus of 25 singing tablet computers.

“We’re so excited to welcome our outstanding 2021-22 Artists-in-Residence, who will bring joy and inspiration to students and audiences through their creative programs and projects,” said Kate Sheeran, KMC’s Executive Director. “They are the perfect artistic ambassadors to reconnect us all and illuminate the synergies between our programs.”

“Especially after more than a year away from in-person musical collaboration, I'm so excited to join the community at Kaufman Music Center,” added Sankaram.

“The range of programs, diversity of music-making, and talent of the young musicians are truly inspiring as I develop a new body of work focused on communal singing and prepare for a performance at Merkin Hall.”