UMD performs at Rhizome - works by Wolfe, Reich, Beethoven, Fields, Rojas

Monday October 19 * doors at 7, show at 7:30 * $10-20 * TICKETS

UMD at Rhizome: Despite being a mere fifteen-minute drive from each other, the University of Maryland's School of Music and Rhizome can feel worlds apart. No more! This bill presents the most experimental student and faculty voices from UMD performing music for string quartet, percussion, and piano by Julia Wolfe, Catherine Fields, Steve Reich (Part I of his canonic Drumming ), John Pablo Rojas, and the O.G. musical radical Ludwig van Beethoven. Hosted by musicologist Will Robin.

The Atria Quartet formed in 2025 as the University of Maryland School of Music's fellowship string quartet and serves as the school's flagship chamber string ensemble. Named after the upper chambers of the heart, the Atria Quartet aims to connect with audiences through their heartfelt musical performances. Prior to forming the quartet, the musicians appeared in festivals across the United States, Europe, and Asia, and now their repertoire spans an equally broad reach, programming works from the Baroque to Modern eras and from traditional to underrepresented composers. The members of the Atria Quartet are Mari Jo Downing (MM'27) and Gaby Echiverri (MM'27) on violin, Nicholas Wilbur on viola (DMA'27), and John Pablo Rojas (MM'27) on cello. Beyond their performances as a quartet, the members enjoy reading new works by composition students and frequently appear as principal players in the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra and Opera Orchestra. The Atria Quartet is grateful for the guidance and mentorship of their coaches at UMD, Dr. Eric Kutz and Dr. James Stern.

The University of Maryland Percussion Quartet comprises William Brown (DMA), Kayden Smutz (MM), Ryder Haines (MM), and Trent Bowman (BM). Based at the University of Maryland, the quartet performs regularly in a variety of university ensembles while also maintaining active careers with orchestras, classical music festivals, and chamber ensembles. Collectively, the members have performed throughout the United States and internationally, bringing a wide range of musical experiences and perspectives to their work as an ensemble. The quartet is dedicated to the performance and exploration of percussion chamber music, with a particular interest in the diverse sounds, textures, and collaborative possibilities of the percussion repertoire. Through their performances, they strive to create engaging musical experiences while exploring the breadth and versatility of percussion as a chamber music medium.

Jonathan Bisesi is currently the Director of the Percussion Studio at the University of Maryland where he teaches private lessons, directs the UMD Percussion Ensemble, teaches courses in Percussion History and Literature, Percussion Pedagogy and the UMD Percussion Department Studio Class. Professor Bisesi held the position of percussionist with The “President’s Own” United States Marine Band from 2004 - 2024 and has performed performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (2026 GRAMMY Award Winner), Boston Pops Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra (2024 European Tour), National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Boston Ballet, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera and Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestras.

Catherine Fields is a Northern Virginia-based composer and pianist whose music spans wind band, orchestra, voice, piano, and chamber ensemble. Through melodic lyricism and evocative timbral and harmonic palettes, she seeks to create meaningful experiences and foster deeper communication through music. Her work has been commissioned and performed by ensembles including the Akropolis Reed Quintet, MIT Concert Band, Waynesboro Symphony, American Festival Pops Orchestra, and Hub New Music. She is also a contributing author to The North American Wind Symphony, published by GIA. A passionate educator, Fields teaches theory, aural skills, and composition and regularly presents…