Dubbed "Houston's Indie, Conductorless Orchestra" and “Best Chamber Orchestra of 2023” (Houston Public Media; Houston Press), the artist-led, artist-curated Kinetic Ensemble has gained increasing national recognition as an innovative and dynamic force in Houston’s music scene, and an important advocate for the diversification of classical music repertoire. Formed in 2015, the 16-member, conductorless string ensemble has been hailed for its “remarkably varied and rich strata of string colour,” (Choir & Organ) its “visually arresting…brilliantly executed” performances, and its “agile virtuosity and vibrant sound” (Arts and Culture Texas). With a commitment to amplifying diverse, under-represented, and newly composed classical music, Kinetic has premiered over twenty works by emerging and established composers of our time, including Karim Al-Zand, Patrick Harlin, Daniel Knaggs, Paul Novak, Nicky Sohn, and Daniel Temkin; and has championed the music of composers as varied as Grazyna Bacewicz, Amy Beach, Jennifer Higdon, Miklós Rózsa, Einoiuhani Rautavaara, Philip Glass, and Heitor Villa-Lobos. Kinetic’s self-titled album, which explores the deep-rooted connections between musical sound and the natural world, was released in 2023 and debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Traditional Classical charts.

With collaboration at its core, Kinetic has partnered with numerous cultural organizations toward creating innovative and accessible performance experiences, including Asia Society Texas, DACAMERA, Center for Performing Arts Medicine at Houston Methodist, Moody Center for the Arts, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Musiqa, and NobleMotion Dance Company. Recent artist-collaborators who have joined Kinetic in performance include GRAMMY® award winners Sasha Cooke (mezzo-soprano) and Houston Chamber Choir, GRAMMY® nominee Clarice Assad (composer/vocalist/pianist), Christopher Bozeka (tenor), Yelena Dyachek (mezzo-soprano), Alexandra Smither (soprano), Charles Paul (bass), and Windsync (wind quintet).

Kinetic’s educational initiatives, which emphasize collaborative approaches to music-making, have inspired hundreds of students from middle school-age to college undergraduates and beyond, with residencies and workshops held at schools and universities throughout the Greater Houston area. The ensemble’s signature educational programs include interactive open rehearsal demonstrations, immersive side-by-side performance experiences, and composition workshops that empower young composers to write masterfully for strings. Kinetic is committed to making live classical music experiences accessible to all, frequently presenting free concerts in open spaces, such as James Turrell Skyspace, Houston Methodist Hospital, community parks, and neighborhood coffee shops.

In addition to Kinetic’s debut full-length album, the ensemble’s studio recordings are also featured on Pierre Jalbert: String Theory (Orchid Classics, 2021), Daniel Knaggs: Two Streams (Capella Records, 2023), Studies in Nature: New Music by Karim Al-Zand (Centaur Records, 2018).

For more information about Kinetic, please visit: www.kineticensemble.org.