About the Ensembles-in-Residence Program

Inaugurated with The Formosa Quartet in 2014, the Ensembles-in-Residence program establishes a two-year partnership with musicians whose mission and projects align with the mission of Art of Elan. The residency includes performance opportunities, commissioning opportunities, and possible recording support.

From 2014 to 2016, Formosa Quartet enjoyed a two-year residency with Art of Elan. As ensemble-in-residence, Formosa worked with UCSD professor of composition Lei Liang to create a new piece based on the indigenous music of Taiwan. The culmination of the two-year project was the premiere performance of the commission, Song Recollections, and Formosa's 2019 critically acclaimed record album, From Hungary To Taiwan.

Our 2016-2018 partners were the critically acclaimed NOW Ensemble, whose San Diego appearances included a free concert at the San Diego Museum of Art in May of 2017, as well as a highly successful collaboration with Malashock Dance, featuring a newly commissioned work by Judd Greenstein. The group wrapped up their residency with another concert at the San Diego Museum of Art which featured the world premiere of “Bruja,” by Tijuana composer Andrés Martín, as well as masterclasses and concerts at both the Centro de Artes Musicales and the Casa de la Cultura Playas in Tijuana.

The 2018-2020 Ensemble-in-Residence featured the Chicago-based Kontras Quartet, known for their diversity in programming and commitment to education and community engagement initiatives. Following a week of successful workshops and free performances at San Diego State University, which took place in February 2020, the residency was paused due to COVID and resumed in April 2022, including a free performance in Rhapsody Hall of the SDSU School of Music and Dance and a ticketed event at ICA North in Encinitas featuring the world premiere of a commissioned work called "Hidden Mothers," written by Boston-based composer Steven Snowden.