Loop38 is a 16-person collective of passionate musicians bringing new music to the heart of Houston. Founded in the spring of 2016 at Rice University, Loop38 specializes in creating contemporary classical music experiences, performing works for large ensemble - an instrumentation that allows the full timbral spectrum of an orchestra while also showcasing the virtuosic solo capabilities of its musicians. Its members hold degrees from top music schools all over the world, and each have used their unique experiences to inform their performances. Named after the 38-mile freeway ("the loop") that the musicians now identify as home, Loop38 focuses on bringing meaningful and memorable aural experiences of thoughtfully programmed music of living composers throughout Space City.

Our 2018-19 season represents an expansion of our activities: we’ve planned fourteen performances at seven locations between September and April, and we are excited to share them all with you! From a small-yet-raucous bar concert at Night Heron, to an afternoon-long performance installation in the old rice silos of Sawyer Yards, we have just about everything you could imagine. Here’s a brief rundown of what’s in store for the next couple months:

Strange, Wild, Weird
Our nerdy party playlist. Unwind during happy hour with not-so-hummable tunes from George Lewis, Gabriel Kahane, and more!
Monday, December 10, 6:00PM
Night Heron

Bayou Born
A meditative ode to Houston. Take in the sunset sequence at this Turrell Skyspace and stay for our program, featuring the sounds of our bayous in a work by Annea Lockwood.
Tuesday, January 29, 7:30PM
Live Oak Meeting House

Bach/Berio
Virtiuosity, old and new. Visit our musicians in solo acts, each in a rice silo, to experience the works of J. S. Bach and Luciano Berio.
Saturday, February 23, 1:30 and 3:00PM
SITE Gallery Houston

Second Saturdays
7 artists, infinite possibilities. How does a work of art sound? Get a glimpse of our creative process with a pop-up performance amidst open artist studios.
Every Second Saturday, 2:30PM
The Silos at Sawyer Yards

Putting on a concert is no small expense, and we are largely able to keep the lights on through the generosity of our performers and friends. In order to keep costs to a minimum, our core artists agree to play for free, and that makes perhaps the biggest difference in our budget. In addition to that, many friends have shared their rehearsal space, tuned our piano, loaned us equipment (you never know when you'll need electromagnetic resonators or a 50lb steel plate!) After taking all that into account, let's take a look at the books for our most recent concert: Behind the Scenes – Behind the Sounds.

Expenses
Venue rental: $650
Score rental: $915
Additional performers: $1,400
Audio Recording: $300
Incidentals (equipment, promotion, etc): $200
Total: $3,465

If we were to add in the cost of fair artist pay, and the equipment that we were so generously loaned, it would look more like this:

Venue rental: $650
Rehearsal space: $500
Score rental: $915
Performer fees: $10,800
Audio recording: $300
Incidentals (equipment, promotion, etc): $500
Total: $13,665

We do what we can, through grant-writing and donated services, but if we want our season to be a success, we are going to need your help! This Giving Tuesday, we ask that you lend your support so that we can continue bringing new music to the heart of Houston.

We are setting a goal for this fundraiser of $4,000. There are a few different levels of success:

If we raise $1,000, that covers the cost of one concert outside of the Second Saturdays series.

If we raise $3,000, that pays for all scores, venues, extra musicians, and equipment for the rest of the season.

If we raise $4,000 or more, that puts us up into the realm of paying our core artists, planning special projects, and saving for next season!