earspace

earspace is a contemporary performance ensemble dedicated to creating invigorating multi-sensory performances of music worth believing in. We seek to expose the inherent potentials within every moment and space, cultivating visceral reactions unique to every manifestation. Through our projects, we explore the extremities of contemporary performance and work to bring audiences closer to the music they experience. earspace has performed across the Triangle at CAM Raleigh and less typical venues like the Google Fiber Space, as well as other venues across North Carolina.

Last season, earspace gave the North Carolina premiere of Hans Abrahamsen’s delicate masterwork, Schnee at The Fruit in Durham. In February, the ensemble presented Tracy Bersley’s new staging of As One, a chamber opera by Laura Kaminsky.

In 2018/2019 season, earspace presented "What if the truth is not enough?"—a collaboration with local artists to explore today's political climate and socioeconomic issues via music, poetry, tweets from public officials, and visual projections. We were able to collaborate with award-winning director and projection designer Francesca Talenti, and with local poet and spoken word artist William “Endlesswill” Davis in our performance of compositions by Carlos Bandera, Joshua Clausen, Ted Hearne, Howie Kenty, Julia Wolfe, and a world premiere of a string quartet by Co-Director Richard Drehoff Jr.

In 2017 and 2018, earspace was in residence at the UNC-Chapel Hill Music Department. During our residencies, the ensemble both collaborated with students from the department to present the multimedia oratorio Shelter by Michael Gordon, David Lang, and Julia Wolfe, accompanied by the films of Bill Morrison, rehearsed and presented student compositions, and presented two programs of contemporary repertoire, featuring works by Chaya Czernowin, Donnacha Dennehy, Ted Hearne, Simon Holt, Gleb Kanasevich, Philippe Leroux, Tristan Murail, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, and Nina C. Young. earspace continually performs the music of today’s leading composers, including the premiere of “instill,” a four-hour work by D. Edward Davis, and is committed to furthering the performance and creation of new and innovative works.